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
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Recent Examples of infested
If trees are lightly or not-yet infested, they can be sprayed or injected with insecticides.
—
Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
It was also infested with hookworms, according to the report.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Housing advocates were beating the drum over tenant protections, lamenting a lack of enforcement from city regulators as residents lived in buildings without heat and hot water, or their units were infested with cockroaches and bed bugs.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 8 Jan. 2026
The ways in which houses can be infested by unclean spirits are varied.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
If the ducts seem infested with insects, rodents, or other pests, they should be cleaned and might need to be treated by a professional exterminator to eliminate an infestation.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Dec. 2025
On this day, candles were blessed for use in the coming year, and any decorations left up were thought to be at risk of becoming infested with goblins.
—Bobbi Sutherland, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
Reed also discovered that the place was allegedly infested with ants in the kitchen and bathrooms.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
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
Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
It was also infested with hookworms, according to the report.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Housing advocates were beating the drum over tenant protections, lamenting a lack of enforcement from city regulators as residents lived in buildings without heat and hot water, or their units were infested with cockroaches and bed bugs.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 8 Jan. 2026
The ways in which houses can be infested by unclean spirits are varied.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
If the ducts seem infested with insects, rodents, or other pests, they should be cleaned and might need to be treated by a professional exterminator to eliminate an infestation.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Dec. 2025
On this day, candles were blessed for use in the coming year, and any decorations left up were thought to be at risk of becoming infested with goblins.
—Bobbi Sutherland, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
Reed also discovered that the place was allegedly infested with ants in the kitchen and bathrooms.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infested
Verb
-
But the hospital has been plagued by security issues in the last few years, and a contract dispute with the nurses’ union.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
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Commentary and opinions Tim Walz isn’t the only governor plagued by fraud.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
While human infections remain rare, a person infected with the virus died in Louisiana last year.—
Brian Hackney,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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These devices were used for advertising fraud and proxy services, and many were infected before consumers even bought them.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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One team member crawled inside and fired paintballs filled with vegetable oil, wildlife organization BEAR League told Fox News Digital on Thursday.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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Scott’s almost-every-snap status has largely crawled under the radar this season.—
Mike Kaye
January 8,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Those bold trunks of synapses, instead of the sleek connections most people have, mean that Kaylie can be overwhelmed by the flood of input coming her way.—
Becky Quick,
CNBC,
8 Jan. 2026
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Indiana overwhelmed Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl as Mendoza passed for 192 yards and three touchdowns.—
Charles Odum,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Infested.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infested. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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