infested

past tense of infest
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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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 infested Jurors heard testimony from three of Alsheikh’s victims who said they were packed into small, filthy, cold, wet cells that were infested with insects and other vermin. — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026 For bare soil or areas heavily infested with persistent weeds, apply a 2- to 3-inch-thick layer of organic mulch directly over the bare soil. — Manjot Kaur Sidhu, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026 Despite those efforts, New World screwworm infested thousands of animals in Panama and Mexico, and in June, the US Department of Agriculture confirmed the first US cases in years. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026 Otherwise, the flour could go stale in a few months or become infested by bugs in the pantry. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2026 Inspectors noted a rice bucket was heavily infested with roaches. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Sep. 2026 The inspection followed a hunger strike by detainees, who in a letter, complained about rotten or worm-infested food, medical neglect, and being coerced into signing deportation orders. — Vanessa Romo, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026 Authorities are investigating after human remains at a Chicago funeral home were allegedly found decaying in an unrefrigerated area infested with rodents. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026 Felix Molina has noticed the difference at a local park that used to be rat-infested. — Dave Carlin, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infested
Verb
  • With local cops, plagued by rumors of departmental misdeeds, looking for a peaceful solution and federal authorities contemplating extreme action, the situation escalates.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026
  • That gave North Crowley a 35-28 lead with 19 seconds remaining in the second quarter, despite a first half plagued with penalties.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • People infected with typhus typically develop symptoms within one to two weeks, which may include a fever, headache, rash and body aches.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
  • She is actually infected, and Bryan has become caught up in the franchise’s inciting t-virus outbreak.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Suki, who had been with her new family only a few weeks, had crawled into an opening in an entertainment center cabinet and could not get out.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Every window of every building the bus crawled past opened a severe yearning in me, as though my life here had become abstract or theoretical.
    — Hisham Matar, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Christian McCaffrey became the fourth-fastest player in the Super Bowl era with 100 career touchdowns, Brock Purdy played a near-perfect game and the 49ers overwhelmed the Miami Dolphins 35-13 on Sunday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Then there is smell, dulled by our reliance on artificial fragrance; and sound, overwhelmed by notification pings.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Infested.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infested. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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