infest

verb

in·​fest in-ˈfest How to pronounce infest (audio)
infested; infesting; infests

transitive verb

1
: to spread or swarm in or over in a troublesome manner
a slum infested with crime
shark-infested waters
2
: to live in or on as a parasite
infestant noun
infestation noun
infester noun

Examples of infest in a Sentence

in desperation, we called in an exterminator because the house was infested with ants
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
And, even in a Western, rural area, your property would need to be infested with wild rodents carrying the virus. Julia Ries, Health, 26 Apr. 2025 Bad behavior, bad ideas and bad policies are infesting themselves in public life, the economy and markets — to the surprise of many ardent supporters of Trump. Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025 The New Mexico property where actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in February appears to have been infested with rodents that carry the deadly hantavirus responsible for her death. Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2025 Exposure can occur when people are cleaning up in buildings infested by rodents. Martha Ross, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for infest

Word History

Etymology

French infester, from Latin infestare, from infestus hostile

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of infest was in 1602

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Infest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infest. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

infest

verb
in·​fest in-ˈfest How to pronounce infest (audio)
1
: to spread or swarm in or over in a troublesome manner
a neighborhood infested with crime
shark-infested waters
2
: to live in or on as a parasite
horses infested with worms
infestation noun

Medical Definition

infest

transitive verb
in·​fest in-ˈfest How to pronounce infest (audio)
: to live in or on as a parasite
the flea that infests cats
horses infested with worms
compare infect

More from Merriam-Webster on infest

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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