infest

as in to plague
to spread or swarm over in a troublesome manner in desperation, we called in an exterminator because the house was infested with ants

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of infest Many herbs also attract whiteflies, which will then infest your cucumbers. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 May 2025 Despite more than a year of oversight, Chairman Tim Walberg, R-Mich., said universities continue to be infested with antisemitism. Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 7 May 2025 Unfortunately, that owner lived in a home that was overwhelmed by hoarding and she was infested with fleas as a result. John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025 The royal palace is infested with evil spirits and one of them has taken hold of the young prince. Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for infest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infest
Verb
  • Inside a Palm Beach County courtroom, Judge Kathleen Kroll is trying to tackle a problem that has plagued Florida schools in recent years: An alarming number of students aren’t showing up for school.
    Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 5 June 2025
  • But visa issues may plague the lead-up to the event — and not just for athletes but the vast Olympics ecosystem, from coaches and families to sponsors and vendors to, of course, attendees.
    Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 5 June 2025
Verb
  • The presence of the virus this month in samples indicates an additional person may be infected with the highly contagious illness, according to a news release.
    Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2025
  • As such, even devices that are safe themselves can be infected by downloading apps from unofficial marketplaces — just as with Android smartphones.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • Creating Breathing Room When your day is overrun with interruptions, preserving pockets of uninterrupted time becomes essential.
    Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
  • Israel bombed the enclave while its new aid operation opened up another distribution site, which was overrun by crowds of hungry Palestinians.
    Natasha Frost, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • The Zenbook crawled to the finish line in every test.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 29 May 2025
  • The men allegedly crawled out of the hole to a loading dock, scaled an exterior concrete wall of the jail complex and darted across a freeway to freedom.
    Kati Weis, CBS News, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • For example, colorful hardware in a small kitchen with a lot of cabinets can overwhelm the space with visual clutter rather than color.
    Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 June 2025
  • Almost immediately, the new facility was overwhelmed: Between the year of its founding and 1887, 44 percent of the women admitted into San Clemente were pellagrous.
    Asia London Palomba, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Infest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infest. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.

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