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 By the same logic, to write anything at all is to go into the locked room of your potential and realise that the roof is leaking, there’s damp in the walls and the furniture is infested with woodworm. Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026 Removing severely weakened or infested trees to reduce nearby beetle populations. Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 31 July 2026 Luca explained that these patches had been infested by pine bark beetles, notorious evergreen-killers that feed on stressed or weakened conifers. Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026 If New World screwworm is identified in an animal in Colorado, state or federal officials will conduct an investigation to understand how the animal became infested. Sarah Tomlinson, The Conversation, 24 July 2026 The canal that flows between Fort Lauderdale resident Harry Rozelle’s house and his church is so infested with bacteria that his teenage son, Cruz, was hospitalized after swimming in it three years ago. Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026 New palms should not be planted in this area as it’s infested with the fungus. Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2026 The same invasive insect was found to have infested grapevines sold at select Northern California Costco warehouses earlier this year, also triggering a major response to try to limit the insect’s impact. Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026 Crerand was born amid the sometimes squalid and crime-infested streets of the Gorbals area of Glasgow, to Sarah and Michael, of Irish and staunch Roman Catholic faith. Andy Mitten, New York Times, 13 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infested
Verb
  • In recent years, Georgia’s State Election Board has been plagued by infighting, feuds, insults, partisan maneuvering and out-and-out shouting matches.
    AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • That report, released by the county last month, details a department doing many things right but also plagued by a poor facility in Bonita and other practices that don’t align with industry standards.
    Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • At the Elikya Ebola Treatment Center in Bunia, the nurse spends her days caring for patients infected with Ebola — one of the world’s deadliest viruses — administering medicine and assisting those too weak to feed themselves.
    Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Most people infected with Salmonella suffer diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, starting 6 hours to 6 days after ingesting the bacteria, the CDC says.
    Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Figures depicting the Pink Panther, Spider Man and the Minions have perched or crawled atop the Dome.
    Mandalit del Barco, NPR, 31 July 2026
  • One of Thursday’s stations included the ‘Confidence Course,’ where campers crawled through tight spaces and wooden obstacles in their heavy gear.
    Julianna Mejia July 31, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • Vivas, speaking to Cadena SER, said arrivals from across Morocco have overwhelmed the city’s social services and security apparatuses over the past few days, with more than 300 people per day.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 31 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, Nathan is overwhelmed by the effort to reconcile his responsibilities as a father with his duties as a bosun and the expectations almost certainly put on him by the whole reality TV part of his life.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 28 July 2026

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“Infested.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infested. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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