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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 infect
In a 2007 study in Chile, researchers took blood samples of 76 people infected with Andes virus and 476 household contacts.
—
Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 13 May 2026
French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said Tuesday that the woman, infected with Andes virus, was one of five French nationals repatriated from the ship.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Health officials said the Maryland residents were on a flight that included a passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship who was infected with hantavirus.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 12 May 2026
Those three patients all had started their original HIV treatment soon after they'd been infected, Deeks said.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for infect
Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 13 May 2026
French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said Tuesday that the woman, infected with Andes virus, was one of five French nationals repatriated from the ship.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Health officials said the Maryland residents were on a flight that included a passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship who was infected with hantavirus.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 12 May 2026
Those three patients all had started their original HIV treatment soon after they'd been infected, Deeks said.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for infect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infect
Verb
-
Despite evidence that the two got along well enough, rumors spread in Vienna after Mozart’s death that Salieri had poisoned him.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Boys State team Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss are behind Teenage Wasteland, which revisits the story of a group of teenagers in upstate New York, who in the early 1990s make a film that uncovers a conspiracy that is poisoning their community.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
An expanding recall linked to powdered milk now includes several popcorn products containing white cheddar seasoning that may be contaminated with Salmonella.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
13 May 2026
-
A lot of these products are mislabeled and contaminated.—
Teresa Maalouf,
Verywell Health,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
In one scene, Little Death lays outrageously bloody waste to the frisky incoming counselors of Camp Miasma (played by Zach Cherry, Quintessa Swindell, and Eva Victor, among others) in a long take set to a needle drop that shouldn’t be spoiled but that adds up to something worthy of blissing out to.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
14 May 2026
-
That said, Collingwood cautions that soups made with certain ingredients such as dairy, meat, or seafood will spoil faster.—
Heather Riske,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Leading off the sixth inning Sunday, Lewis unsuccessfully tried to bunt for a hit twice, fouling off both pitches.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
His seventh goal came after Morrison Agyemang was fouled by Osorio.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Infect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infect. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
