as in plagued
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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Recent Examples of infested
Reed also discovered that the place was allegedly infested with ants in the kitchen and bathrooms.
—
Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
Discard anything that is damaged or obviously infested, tying it in a plastic bag and throwing it away.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
Of the more than five thousand tributaries that empty into the Great Lakes, about one in ten is infested with lampreys.
—Katie Thornton, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Money trees infested with pests or diseases may develop brown leaves.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
Del Toro’s film concerns Edith’s growing realization that her husband’s home might be infested with a few ghosts, but Crimson Peak’s story places a distant second to del Toro and his production team’s marvelous weaving of turn-of-the-century dread.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
These invasive ticks so heavily infested an Ohio farm in 2021 that three cows died from blood loss.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Oct. 2025
Clean your grimy phone If your devices become sticky, crusty or crumb-infested, Ek said to wipe them down with a clean, dry cloth, followed by a disinfectant wipe.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Oct. 2025
The home was hoarded, covered in refuse and infested with insects.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 23 Sep. 2025
Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
Discard anything that is damaged or obviously infested, tying it in a plastic bag and throwing it away.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
Of the more than five thousand tributaries that empty into the Great Lakes, about one in ten is infested with lampreys.
—Katie Thornton, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Money trees infested with pests or diseases may develop brown leaves.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
Del Toro’s film concerns Edith’s growing realization that her husband’s home might be infested with a few ghosts, but Crimson Peak’s story places a distant second to del Toro and his production team’s marvelous weaving of turn-of-the-century dread.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
These invasive ticks so heavily infested an Ohio farm in 2021 that three cows died from blood loss.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Oct. 2025
Clean your grimy phone If your devices become sticky, crusty or crumb-infested, Ek said to wipe them down with a clean, dry cloth, followed by a disinfectant wipe.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Oct. 2025
The home was hoarded, covered in refuse and infested with insects.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infested
Verb
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The idea that a leak of any kind must be coming from one of the cast members is something that has plagued many a Housewives season.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
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Daylilies are sometimes plagued by pests like thrips, slugs, aphids, Japanese beetles, and spider mites.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The National Turkey Federation estimated last year that up to 80% of turkey flocks were infected with AMPV, which complicates the situation with the surge in bird flu.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
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The Center for Disease Control said if one person with the virus is present, up to nine or 10 people nearby will be infected if they are not protected.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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One live roach crawled on the floor near the kitchen door.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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Roaring out of the gates in Set 2, the Raiders mounted a commanding 10-2 lead, but the Storm went blow for blow with the Raiders and crawled back into the set.—
Andrew Cornelius,
Twin Cities,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The flood of people overwhelmed Bajo Chiquito, an impoverished community of 382 members of the Indigenous Emberá-Wounaan people.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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Food banks nationwide are overwhelmed by surging demand, with long lines and limited supplies.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Infested.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infested. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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