as in to poison
to pass something harmful (such as a disease) to someone or something else
If you come to work when you're sick, you'll infect everyone in the office.
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Recent Examples of infect
Also common are ransomware schemes, where crooks infect victims’ computers and demand payments to unlock the computers and the information stored on them.
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Russ Wiles, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024
You can also get infected by touching surfaces contaminated with the virus (e.g., phones, doorknobs, light switches) before touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.9
Viruses that cause colds and the flu tend to survive longer and spread more efficiently in cool, dry conditions.
—Brandi Jones, Msn-Ed, Health, 30 Oct. 2024
Studies show that people who are vaccinated have milder symptoms once infected.
—Aaron Valdez, The Enquirer, 30 Oct. 2024
The bird flu outbreak in dairy cows has infected 387 herds across 14 states so far, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Erika Edwards, NBC News, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for infect 
Russ Wiles, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024
You can also get infected by touching surfaces contaminated with the virus (e.g., phones, doorknobs, light switches) before touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.9
Viruses that cause colds and the flu tend to survive longer and spread more efficiently in cool, dry conditions.
—Brandi Jones, Msn-Ed, Health, 30 Oct. 2024
Studies show that people who are vaccinated have milder symptoms once infected.
—Aaron Valdez, The Enquirer, 30 Oct. 2024
The bird flu outbreak in dairy cows has infected 387 herds across 14 states so far, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Erika Edwards, NBC News, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for infect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infect
Verb
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And subsequent research has suggested most of those who were poisoned had been drinking this bootleg alcohol for pleasure or escape, not protection from COVID-19.ByKai Kupferschmidt, science.org, 31 Oct. 2024
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The salty water slowly poisons living trees, leaving a haunted ghost forest of dead and dying timber.Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
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The cheeses were sold under several brand names—Aldi, La Bonne Vie, Market Basket and Supreme—but may all be contaminated with listeria after contact with the processing equipment at Savencia's Lena facility.Aliss Higham, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
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These prions can linger in the environment for years, contaminating soil and water sources and spreading the disease to new animals.Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Dodge won't spoil the surprise by confirming if the last one will be based on the Charger or the Challenger (or maybe both), but the evidence suggests the latter is more likely.Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 13 Feb. 2023
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Farmers’ broiler chickens suffocate, and dairy products spoil.Monica Mark, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Feb. 2023
Verb
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Jackson proceeds to foul off several pitches before Welch gets him to swing and miss a fastball.Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
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Jackson fouled off several pitches before Welch gets him to swing and miss a fastball.Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near infect
Cite this Entry
“Infect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infect. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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