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
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Recent Examples of infested
When left unattended in a basement for a prolonged period, things are bound to acquire mold and mildew or become infested with unwelcome guests.
—
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025
The home was hoarded, covered in refuse and infested with insects.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 23 Sep. 2025
Pathologists soon discovered that some remains were infested with bluebottle fly larvae.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
The latter being especially notable in one of the later levels, which is infested by body-horror-type monstrosities, as their screams are genuinely unnerving.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The two lakes — as well as the connecting Kohlman and Keller lakes — will be listed as infested.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 16 Sep. 2025
And then some of these astronauts get infested with extraterrestrial bugs, and everything becomes extremely gross.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Frustrated by delays in federal and state deterrence projects, and annoyed by their own encounters with the flying fish, residents of a small town in western Illinois saw both a challenge and an opportunity in the large numbers of silver carp that infested their stretch of the Illinois River.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
But humans can also become infested by the larvae, according to the CDC.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025
The home was hoarded, covered in refuse and infested with insects.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 23 Sep. 2025
Pathologists soon discovered that some remains were infested with bluebottle fly larvae.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
The latter being especially notable in one of the later levels, which is infested by body-horror-type monstrosities, as their screams are genuinely unnerving.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The two lakes — as well as the connecting Kohlman and Keller lakes — will be listed as infested.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 16 Sep. 2025
And then some of these astronauts get infested with extraterrestrial bugs, and everything becomes extremely gross.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Frustrated by delays in federal and state deterrence projects, and annoyed by their own encounters with the flying fish, residents of a small town in western Illinois saw both a challenge and an opportunity in the large numbers of silver carp that infested their stretch of the Illinois River.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
But humans can also become infested by the larvae, according to the CDC.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infested
Verb
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But internally, Artie is struggling, plagued by feelings of isolation and the constant thought that the world has gone mad.—
Clare Fisher,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
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Bob McCann, executive director of The K-12 Alliance of Michigan, said the message from the governor and state superintendent telling school officials to spend money on school meals after the budget logjam in Lansing plagued them with months of funding uncertainty was met with frustration.—
Clara Hendrickson,
Freep.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But in 1775—for reasons still unknown—the horseback courier arrived back two weeks late, when botrytis had already infected Riesling grapes growing in the vineyards.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
5 Oct. 2025
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At the end of the 19th century, Phylloxera bugs infected vineyards across Europe but a solution was found, and viticulture adapted and continued.—
Miguel A. Torres,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After a disastrous trip to Mexico where Irina appeared repulsed by pretty much everything Zack did, the couple split and Zack crawled back to Bliss.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
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Just as Ted Lasso began life as a promo for NBC’s English Premier League coverage, Chad Powers crawled out of a gag on Eli’s Places, Eli Manning’s post-retirement ESPN+ program, in which the former Giants quarterback hides under prosthetics to pose as an aspiring Penn State walk-on.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But courts were overwhelmed by a flood of asylum seekers—a long-standing systemic shortage exacerbated by Biden’s inclusive policies.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
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And the first-half performance in Seville, as Postecoglou’s side overwhelmed a very strong Real Betis, was enough to prompt a huge sense of positivity.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Infested.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infested. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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