as in poisoning
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 infecting
Less than a mile from Campbell’s home, inside City Hall, dysfunction was infecting the police department.
—
Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
In other words, don't show up unannounced at a medical office or emergency room and risk infecting others.
—Sarah Volpenhein, jsonline.com, 6 Feb. 2026
What neither Bond nor Blofeld know, though, is that Safin has already intercepted Madeline, infecting her with a Heracles variant that is harmless to her but fatal to Blofeld.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Jan. 2026
Well, this research team from Yale found that their laboratory noses could produce interferons that could then keep the rhinovirus from infecting cells and thus limit the spread of the virus.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
It's revealed that this beauty drug is infecting people with a virus that leads to death, luring in an investigation by FBI Agents Cooper Madsen, played by Evan Peters, and Jordan Bennett, played by Rebecca Hall.
—Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, the Larian Studios RPG follows a party that seeks to cure themselves of a parasitic tadpole infecting their brains.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 5 Jan. 2026
But while the risk of infecting someone else is lower than if the person had been unvaccinated, some risk still exists, according to the state health department.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 23 Dec. 2025
The virus infecting poultry populations was one reason egg prices skyrocketed earlier this year.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 17 Dec. 2025
Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
In other words, don't show up unannounced at a medical office or emergency room and risk infecting others.
—Sarah Volpenhein, jsonline.com, 6 Feb. 2026
What neither Bond nor Blofeld know, though, is that Safin has already intercepted Madeline, infecting her with a Heracles variant that is harmless to her but fatal to Blofeld.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Jan. 2026
Well, this research team from Yale found that their laboratory noses could produce interferons that could then keep the rhinovirus from infecting cells and thus limit the spread of the virus.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
It's revealed that this beauty drug is infecting people with a virus that leads to death, luring in an investigation by FBI Agents Cooper Madsen, played by Evan Peters, and Jordan Bennett, played by Rebecca Hall.
—Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, the Larian Studios RPG follows a party that seeks to cure themselves of a parasitic tadpole infecting their brains.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 5 Jan. 2026
But while the risk of infecting someone else is lower than if the person had been unvaccinated, some risk still exists, according to the state health department.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 23 Dec. 2025
The virus infecting poultry populations was one reason egg prices skyrocketed earlier this year.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 17 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infecting
Verb
-
There are even tales of them poisoning people and holding funerals for their dead.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Officials in both Hong Kong and Beijing defended the case against Lai, with the city’s leader John Lee accusing the newspaper of inciting violence and poisoning young minds.—
Kanis Leung,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But now, federal prosecutors say Hennen is the fixer behind the biggest point-shaving scandal in history, accused of bribing 39 college players, corrupting 17 programs and fixing — or trying fix — 29 games to enrich himself and other gamblers.—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Blakeney then recruited other players on the team, corrupting the integrity of games, according to the indictment.—
Paulina Dedaj , Ryan Morik , Andrew Fone,
FOXNews.com,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Thousands of Princeton undergraduates took it upon themselves to search the nearby woods, despite official concerns about contaminating potential evidence.—
Kase Wickman,
Vanity Fair,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Millions of gallons of untreated wastewater flow daily from Mexico’s Tijuana River across the border into the United States, contaminating beaches near Imperial Beach and exposing nearby communities to toxic gases including hydrogen sulfide.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Bidunga of late has been able to block a lot of shots without fouling.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
7 Feb. 2026
-
There was Nevada’s overtime win against Grand Canyon six days later, when the Antelopes led by three and had one of its best free-throw shooters miss a pair … followed by Williams fouling a guy attempting a 3 at the buzzer to force OT.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Much of the damage that the larger amount would cause, especially the impact on the pond and spoiling the preserve, would still happen under the new plan.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Petrecca was thrust into the commentary role, replacing Auro Bulbarelli, who removed himself after spoiling the surprise arrival of Mattarella aboard one of the city’s trams.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This research marks the first time scientists have identified the specific amino acids — arginine and tyrosine — that act as molecular glue, giving spider silk its legendary properties.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
-
There are also giant granite boulders dotting the shore, giving it a decidedly remote, rugged feel.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Infecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infecting. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
