infests

present tense third-person singular of infest
as in plagues
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 infests These parasites and their eggs contaminate soil, which then infests drinking water and food, especially in areas with poor sanitation. Jenna Anderson, Health, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infests
Verb
  • His voice already had that staticky, far-away quality that plagues international calls, which made Nakia fear he was gone for good.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Everything that plagues Chicago also plagues America.
    Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Listeria infects about 1,600 people in the United States each year, killing about 260 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Commonly known as the brain worm, Parelaphostrongylus tenuis is a parasitic nematode that infects a large range of wild and domestic herbivores, such as moose and elk.
    Jessie Richards, The Conversation, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This figure motivates Butrich but also overwhelms her.
    Sabrina Weiss, The Dial, 23 Sep. 2025
  • If a disaster overwhelms state and local capacity, officials may request a presidential declaration, the agency said.
    Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Arisu crawls onto a mound of rubble for momentary relief, and is met with an angry Banda.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Gameplay begins as the player crawls from the wreckage.
    G Kirilloff, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Infests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infests. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

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