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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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
Jenna Anderson, Health, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infests
Verb
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So while so much of this matchup is strength versus strength, what might matter most is which team’s weakness plagues them the least.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
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Cinnamon has been widely touted as a cure-all for anything that plagues the garden.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes, and a rash.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
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Lack of income is a contagion that infects self-worth, confidence and the ability to be present in life.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The scent is beautifully soft—a gentle blend of leather, iris, and jasmine that never overwhelms the room.—
Hannah Coates,
Vogue,
4 Jan. 2026
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Much of the first half of the novel is given over to claustrophobic atmosphere that overwhelms the wide open country all around them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Since the holidays, many of us have spent winter days cooped up inside, shuttling between work, school and home while the calendar crawls toward spring.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
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In Elf, while Santa (the late Ed Asner) is setting out toys at an orphanage on Christmas Eve, Buddy (Will Ferrell) crawls into his sack.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
23 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Infests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infests. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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