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

Relevance

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 Sidewalks, footbridges, crosswalks, parks, esplanades, car-free plazas — just about every public space where pedestrians should feel at ease has been infested by a chaotic swarm of vehicles, both electrified and not. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2026 The physical conditions are so bad that cells are infested with mold and vermin, the letter said. — Jessica Ryan, AJC.com, 19 Oct. 2026 Students have drawn attention to rundown classrooms that lack basics such as desks and chairs, become sweltering in summer without air conditioning and, in some cases, are infested with rats. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infested
Verb
  • But he was plagued by guilt over his ancestor’s role in the trials, and felt compelled to explore themes of human character, greed, and social decay through his work.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Joan realizes that her mother’s vanishing meshes with a larger tapestry of tragedy that has plagued their family over the years.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • In certain communities, funeral practices included washing the body and sprinkling water on mourners, which risked exposing people to infected bodily fluids.
    — Olayinka Stephen Ilesanmi, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2026
  • If you are infected, it's recommended to reinstall Windows just to be safe.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 4 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Giamanco crawled in through a shot-out window, reached the special education classroom and reracked his firearm in preparation for a deadly confrontation.
    — David K. Li, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In May 2025, after Williams shut off the water in a cell, 10 inmates removed a toilet, crawled through a gap in the wall and scaled a fence out of the jail.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The awkward silence overwhelmed everyone until the major stepped in front of Helen.
    — Ron Farina, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Their campaigns emerged in the aftermath of Covid-19, when doctors and health officials were celebrated at first, overwhelmed by work and tragedy for years, and in some cases, targeted because of distrust or politics around their messages.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster