infesting

present participle of infest
as in plaguing
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 infesting Good property maintenance and natural and safe methods can get rid of chiggers and prevent them from infesting your space. Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 22 July 2026 To prevent the New World Screwworm from infesting Florida, the state is blocking rescue dogs and cats coming from Texas and New Mexico. Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 12 June 2026 The moths infesting a pantry are not the same as moths hiding in your closet. Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 13 May 2026 No one wants mice moving into their home or infesting their garden. Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026 Spotted lanternflies have been infesting parts of the East Coast. Cate Martel, The Hill, 16 Oct. 2025 Quagga mussels and golden mussels, fingernail-sized invaders infesting California waterways, clog the water pumps and pipes responsible for distributing water to millions of people and vast stretches of farmland. Pam Marrone, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025 Aphids and Spider Mites These tiny, sap-sucking insects become more active in the fall, infesting flowering and fruiting plants. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infesting
Verb
  • This is the growth paradox plaguing America’s most innovative companies.
    Chris Hale, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • No, this did not come from the athletic department, but the school itself, which put an even bigger spotlight on the problems currently plaguing the Tar Heels football program.
    Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Tests on Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, Unitree’s G1 and Boston Dynamics’ Spot showed the robots could perform crawling, cartwheels, handstands, soccer kicks and other complex movements across different robotic body types.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile in Broward County, a restaurant had two dozen live roaches inside the dishwasher, under a food warmer and chest freezer, and crawling on a wall.
    Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • But the 16 bacteria-infecting viruses described on August 6 in Science were no ordinary specimens.
    Elie Dolgin, IEEE Spectrum, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Only the 2014–16 Ebola epidemic in West Africa has been larger and deadlier, infecting more than 28,600 people and killing 11,325 across Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
    Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • This camp, however, Martin isn’t overrunning as many plays and is getting shots at weak- and strong-side linebacker.
    Cam Inman, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • These immigrants, mostly undocumented, are blamed for rampant crime, taking jobs and overrunning hospital wards and places in government schools.
    Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Infesting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infesting. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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