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
Producer Greer Simpkin noted that the swarms of flies visible throughout required no visual effects – the location was so badly infested that cast and crew regularly swallowed them during takes.
—
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 June 2026
Health officials in Berkeley said one person died and another person was hospitalized after contracting leptospirosis from rats that had infested their RV.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 11 June 2026
The goat was newly confirmed as the latest case to be infested with New World screwworm, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said in a press conference Monday.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 11 June 2026
The home was rat-infested, had human and animal feces throughout and no central heat.
—Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
The flies lay their eggs in open wounds of animals like cattle, but wildlife, pets and occasionally even humans can be infested.
—Jeffrey Collins, Fortune, 9 June 2026
Cockroaches have infested the building Tourville lives in.
—Quil Lawrence, NPR, 28 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
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 June 2026
Health officials in Berkeley said one person died and another person was hospitalized after contracting leptospirosis from rats that had infested their RV.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 11 June 2026
The goat was newly confirmed as the latest case to be infested with New World screwworm, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said in a press conference Monday.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 11 June 2026
The home was rat-infested, had human and animal feces throughout and no central heat.
—Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
The flies lay their eggs in open wounds of animals like cattle, but wildlife, pets and occasionally even humans can be infested.
—Jeffrey Collins, Fortune, 9 June 2026
Cockroaches have infested the building Tourville lives in.
—Quil Lawrence, NPR, 28 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infested
Verb
-
This past offseason was a nightmare filled with mistakes, and the season has been plagued by one injury after another.—
Jim Bowden,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
The charming little burg is plagued by a perplexing dead body problem.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
At least two babies have been infected with measles in California so far this year.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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More than 150 troops at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas have been infected with influenza over the past three weeks — a major outbreak less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American troops would no longer be required to be vaccinated against the flu.—
Maegan Vazquez,
Washington Post,
19 June 2026
Verb
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When doctors smothered it in ointment, about 45 larvae crawled out.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
9 June 2026
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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
Verb
-
The downpour quickly overwhelmed the city’s sewer system, and even the regional network of deep tunnels and reservoirs couldn’t keep up.—
Daniel C. Vock,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
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Dozens of Broward food pantries, large and small, hundreds of nonprofit and faith-based organizations, along with thousands of local volunteers, are trying to fight the good fight, but they are overwhelmed by the growing need.—
Michael Farver,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Infested.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infested. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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