infested

Definition of infestednext
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 Among those lost were four maples and about 20 ash trees infested with emerald ash borers, said David Dammon, vice president of MVCC’s Administrative Services. Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026 Back in December, agents also seized four pounds of non-human primate meat, along with 11 pounds of beans infested by pests, and 17 pounds of an unknown plant from a passenger from Congo. Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026 Last year, the state’s Department of Food and Agriculture cut down 30% of the nursery’s citrus trees on concerns they were infested with Asian citrus psyllid, a sap-sucking bug that transmits a devastating citrus disease. Pat Maio, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026 Caution arose due to props falling on crew members, as well as black mold that infested a shooting location, Deadline reported. Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 4 Apr. 2026 Deadline also understands that the production required a location change after crew pushed back on the use of a space that was infested with black mold. Katie Campione, Deadline, 3 Apr. 2026 Anyone who believes they may be infested with screwworm should contact their health provider. Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026 Workers described living in overcrowded containers infested with cockroaches and bedbugs, with access to only one or two showers per year and in some cases just a single day off annually. Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026 Allegations of betting on suicide Like other detainees, Ramsingh said that between cleanings, the rooms, restrooms and showers were often filthy and infested with insects. Morgan Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infested
Verb
  • The Pistons also were plagued by turnovers (20 that led to 25 Cavaliers points) and fouling (Cleveland attempted 22 more free throws).
    Darnell Mayberry, New York Times, 12 May 2026
  • The new facility replaced the detention center at 1300 Cherry Street, which is more than four decades old and had fallen into partial disrepair and had long been plagued by unsafe overcrowding and allegations of abuse and mismanagement.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 10 May 2026
Verb
  • In total, five people have been confirmed to have contracted the virus while three others are suspected of being infected.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 8 May 2026
  • The strain involved in the outbreak aboard the MV Hondius, the Andes virus, is capable of person to person transmission, though it is considered rare and requires prolonged close contact with someone who has been infected, or with their bodily fluids.
    Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • When a Republican says something foolish, network anchors react like a gator just crawled into the studio wearing a MAGA hat.
    Larry Clifton, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2026
  • The next day, steady rains caused the F1 Academy race to be cancelled and the first 20 laps of the Miami Grand Prix to be crawled behind the safety car.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • The feeling overwhelmed him even as his jaw ached and his throat compressed in the second quarter of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 114-109 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series on Sunday.
    Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 11 May 2026
  • Building a Chaos Innovation Muscle Most organizations are overwhelmed by cultural chaos.
    Sarah DaVanzo, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Infested.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infested. Accessed 14 May. 2026.

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