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
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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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And as a fight over the reauthorization of a key national security surveillance law plagues the lower chamber, moving forward with the DHS funding hasn't appeared to be a top priority.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
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The reclined riding position spreads body weight evenly, eliminating the back, neck, and wrist strain that plagues conventional cycling.—
Omar Kardoudi
April 20,
New Atlas,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The former is caused by bacteria that infects the protective lining of the brain and spinal cord, which can lead to inflammation.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
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Mumps infects the salivary glands below the ears.—
Tanya Lewis,
Scientific American,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Krasnoff, for her part, is watching to see whether the pageantry of the World Cup eventually overwhelms the political noise.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
19 Apr. 2026
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There aren’t any magic words that will dissuade someone from pursuing a self-destructive path, and there’s no telling whose words mattered most to Robby today, tomorrow, or whenever the darkness overwhelms him.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Think about how often your toddler crawls near the dog bed or your kids toss pet toys around the living room.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
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In the book, Grace drags Rocky back to his part of the ship, exposing himself to the Eridian environment; in the film, Rocky crawls back while Grace is unconscious.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Infests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infests. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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