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 Cockroaches have infested the building Tourville lives in. Quil Lawrence, NPR, 28 May 2026 Minnesota's Department says more than 370 of the state's lakes and rivers are already infested. Ubah Ali, CBS News, 25 May 2026 On the set of Empire, Henson pleaded for a trailer that wasn’t infested with bugs. Zak Cheney-Rice, Vulture, 13 May 2026 If the container held diseased plants, was infested with insects, or is full of mold, throw out the potting mix and replace it. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 May 2026 The National Park Service says that most human cases of hantavirus occur in the spring and are linked to buildings that become heavily infested with rodents over the winter. Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026 Hilary Crowley, a county spokeswoman, said a $100 million floodgate completed in 2024 has been infested with the relentless mollusks, requiring an expensive removal. Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 8 May 2026 This is the level of environmental intelligence that helps ensure the home is protected, even if the surrounding neighborhood is infested. Kody Boye, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026 Imagine a cabin infested with mice infected by the virus – sweeping the cabin would shake up dust from the mouse urine and droppings, distributing it through the air and enabling people to inhale the viral particles. Daniel Pastula, The Conversation, 7 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infested
Verb
  • Control Pests and Diseases Apple trees, like all fruit trees, are plagued by a host of pests and diseases.
    Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 25 May 2026
  • All the problems that plagued Colorado in dropping the first two games of the series at home suddenly reappeared.
    Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Verb
  • Then, in a second state, officials would set up isolation and biocontainment units to house Americans infected with the virus.
    Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
  • Though a person infected with the virus may experience unpleasant symptoms, others may be asymptomatic.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • But Inglis kept losing partners to Punjab fast bowler Marco Jansen (2-33) and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (2-25) and Lucknow crawled to 196.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 May 2026
  • The children, a 10-year-old and two 14-year-olds who struggle with sensory issues, crawled through the back door and under the deck and waited until police came to escort them away.
    Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2026
Verb
  • Judges report receiving violent threats and intimidation tactics—including death threats and unsolicited pizzas sent to their homes—following adverse rulings against the administration, with federal marshal services overwhelmed by a 78% increase in threats against judges over four years.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
  • She has been overwhelmed by emotions.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Infested.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infested. Accessed 31 May. 2026.

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