infest

Definition of infestnext
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 Soiled, Moldy, or Infested Items Clothing or furniture that smells of mildew, has visible stains, or has been stored in a rodent- or insect-infested environment should be discarded, never donated. Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2026 Their eggs, laid in open wounds or on mucous membranes, would then not hatch into the flesh-eating maggots that can infest livestock, wild mammals, household pets and even humans. John Hanna, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026 Houseplants that are already wilting, suffering from root rot, or infested with pests shouldn't be watered with rice water, notes Harryson. Lauren David, Martha Stewart, 10 Feb. 2026 The calf was probably too young to have been shipped from farther south, raising the likelihood that it had been infested by an adult screwworm in Tamaulipas. Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for infest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infest
Verb
  • Meanwhile, some good news is in the forecast for the drought- and heat-plagued West, as a cool, wet and even snowy pattern is forecast to bring some relief that's desperately needed across the region.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
  • While the company ultimately plans to build a 104-station tunnel network beneath Las Vegas, the project has also been plagued by safety issues, accidents, and scandals.
    Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The Earth’s sun is infected with a mysterious phenomena conjured by Weir called a Petrova line, a trail of alien cells called astrophage that are slowly consuming the fiery orb.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2026
  • And by March 16, two previously clean packages with roughly 135,000 monthly downloads had been infected.
    Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 21 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Jung Hoo Lee, who’s still learning Oracle Park’s right field, overran Paul Goldschmidt’s base hit down the right-field line that caromed off the short, angled side wall in foul territory, allowing a single to become a double.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
  • In its early days, the site was overrun with humans desperate to make a quick buck — while the AI agents that would ostensibly assign those jobs were nowhere to be found.
    Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • But they are really designed and developed to crawl over and destroy everything.
    Joel Feder, The Drive, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Maritime trade is crawling at Georgia’s ports, but the state authority that operates the nation’s third-busiest cargo terminals isn’t throttling back its expansion efforts.
    Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Home buyers have gained even more leverage over sellers as housing market supply continues to overwhelm tepid demand.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Ultimately, the Gophers — making their first NCAA tournament since 2018, and first Sweet 16 since 2005 — were overwhelmed by their Big Ten rival’s size and experience.
    John Shipley, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Infest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infest. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.

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