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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Recent Examples of infested
Discard anything that is damaged or obviously infested, tying it in a plastic bag and throwing it away.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
The whole property was infested with rats.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
Of the more than five thousand tributaries that empty into the Great Lakes, about one in ten is infested with lampreys.
—Katie Thornton, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Money trees infested with pests or diseases may develop brown leaves.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
Del Toro’s film concerns Edith’s growing realization that her husband’s home might be infested with a few ghosts, but Crimson Peak’s story places a distant second to del Toro and his production team’s marvelous weaving of turn-of-the-century dread.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
These invasive ticks so heavily infested an Ohio farm in 2021 that three cows died from blood loss.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Oct. 2025
Clean your grimy phone If your devices become sticky, crusty or crumb-infested, Ek said to wipe them down with a clean, dry cloth, followed by a disinfectant wipe.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Oct. 2025
The home was hoarded, covered in refuse and infested with insects.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 23 Sep. 2025
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
The whole property was infested with rats.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
Of the more than five thousand tributaries that empty into the Great Lakes, about one in ten is infested with lampreys.
—Katie Thornton, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Money trees infested with pests or diseases may develop brown leaves.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
Del Toro’s film concerns Edith’s growing realization that her husband’s home might be infested with a few ghosts, but Crimson Peak’s story places a distant second to del Toro and his production team’s marvelous weaving of turn-of-the-century dread.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
These invasive ticks so heavily infested an Ohio farm in 2021 that three cows died from blood loss.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Oct. 2025
Clean your grimy phone If your devices become sticky, crusty or crumb-infested, Ek said to wipe them down with a clean, dry cloth, followed by a disinfectant wipe.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Oct. 2025
The home was hoarded, covered in refuse and infested with insects.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infested
Verb
-
The idea that a leak of any kind must be coming from one of the cast members is something that has plagued many a Housewives season.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
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Daylilies are sometimes plagued by pests like thrips, slugs, aphids, Japanese beetles, and spider mites.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Foxes, bobcats and coyotes can be infected with trichinosis, a parasitic infection.—
Stuart Dyos,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
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About 95% of people cannot be infected because their immune systems can fight off the bacteria that causes Hansen's, the CDC said.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Modern Wall Street has killed just about everything cool that walks or crawled at one time or another.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
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The van’s driver then crawled out of his vehicle’s window, crossed over a median and was instantly struck by a car speeding in the opposite direction, which was broadcast by the news helicopter following the chase.—
Brian Niemietz,
Mercury News,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The flood of people overwhelmed Bajo Chiquito, an impoverished community of 382 members of the Indigenous Emberá-Wounaan people.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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Food banks nationwide are overwhelmed by surging demand, with long lines and limited supplies.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Infested.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infested. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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