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
Cockroaches have infested the building Tourville lives in.
—
Quil Lawrence, NPR, 28 May 2026
Minnesota's Department says more than 370 of the state's lakes and rivers are already infested.
—Ubah Ali, CBS News, 25 May 2026
On the set of Empire, Henson pleaded for a trailer that wasn’t infested with bugs.
—Zak Cheney-Rice, Vulture, 13 May 2026
If the container held diseased plants, was infested with insects, or is full of mold, throw out the potting mix and replace it.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
The National Park Service says that most human cases of hantavirus occur in the spring and are linked to buildings that become heavily infested with rodents over the winter.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
Hilary Crowley, a county spokeswoman, said a $100 million floodgate completed in 2024 has been infested with the relentless mollusks, requiring an expensive removal.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
This is the level of environmental intelligence that helps ensure the home is protected, even if the surrounding neighborhood is infested.
—Kody Boye, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026
Imagine a cabin infested with mice infected by the virus – sweeping the cabin would shake up dust from the mouse urine and droppings, distributing it through the air and enabling people to inhale the viral particles.
—Daniel Pastula, The Conversation, 7 May 2026
Quil Lawrence, NPR, 28 May 2026
Minnesota's Department says more than 370 of the state's lakes and rivers are already infested.
—Ubah Ali, CBS News, 25 May 2026
On the set of Empire, Henson pleaded for a trailer that wasn’t infested with bugs.
—Zak Cheney-Rice, Vulture, 13 May 2026
If the container held diseased plants, was infested with insects, or is full of mold, throw out the potting mix and replace it.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
The National Park Service says that most human cases of hantavirus occur in the spring and are linked to buildings that become heavily infested with rodents over the winter.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
Hilary Crowley, a county spokeswoman, said a $100 million floodgate completed in 2024 has been infested with the relentless mollusks, requiring an expensive removal.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
This is the level of environmental intelligence that helps ensure the home is protected, even if the surrounding neighborhood is infested.
—Kody Boye, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026
Imagine a cabin infested with mice infected by the virus – sweeping the cabin would shake up dust from the mouse urine and droppings, distributing it through the air and enabling people to inhale the viral particles.
—Daniel Pastula, The Conversation, 7 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infested
Verb
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The new officers will take their leadership positions amid strength in Tyson Foods’ chicken and prepared foods segments, while the beef segment has been plagued by multi-million dollar operating losses.—
Dylan Sherman,
Arkansas Online,
8 June 2026
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In Seasons 1-4, that vicar is Sidney Chambers (James Norton), a jazz enthusiast plagued by memories of WWII who offers unsolicited insights to gruff and initially ungrateful Det.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Then, in a second state, officials would set up isolation and biocontainment units to house Americans infected with the virus.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
-
Though a person infected with the virus may experience unpleasant symptoms, others may be asymptomatic.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Verb
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He was buried alive on a construction site and then poisoned by a venomous rattlesnake that crawled into his coffin and attacked him.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
The truck driver crawled to the side of the road and the gunman fled.—
Kristi Miller,
Twin Cities,
26 May 2026
Verb
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Feint claps for the President could be heard on the ABC broadcast, but they were overwhelmed by the Bronx cheer.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
9 June 2026
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The weather is mild, the landscapes are at their most dramatic, and the town feels alive without being overwhelmed.—
Elizabeth Heath,
Travel + Leisure,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Infested.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infested. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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