as in virus
an abnormal state caused by contact with harmful organisms (such as bacteria or viruses)
There is a viral infection spreading among the schoolchildren.
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Recent Examples of infection
Touching infested water, even just a splash, can risk infection, as microscopic larvae swimming along the surface are able to wriggle through skin.
—
William McCarthy,
NPR,
4 July 2026
Seroprevalence surveys, which screen blood for antibodies that mark a past infection, suggest the true burden is far larger.
—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2026
Although infections can happen year-round, health officials say cases typically increase during the warmer months as more people spend time in pools and water parks.
—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 July 2026
The infection is typically treated with a combination antibiotic.
—
Caroline Kee,
NBC news,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for infection
William McCarthy,
NPR,
4 July 2026
Seroprevalence surveys, which screen blood for antibodies that mark a past infection, suggest the true burden is far larger.
—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2026
Although infections can happen year-round, health officials say cases typically increase during the warmer months as more people spend time in pools and water parks.
—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 July 2026
The infection is typically treated with a combination antibiotic.
—
Caroline Kee,
NBC news,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for infection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infection
Noun
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Thorough cooking kills the virus, so cook eggs and meat all the way through and skip raw milk.
-
Testing of saliva later confirmed infection with a bat rabies virus variant.
Noun
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Always wear gloves before handling nests to protect yourself from any germs or parasites.
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The commonality suggests there must be some evolutionary reason and the mouse experiment hints at a little germ protection — but still not a reason to scratch.
Cite this Entry
“Infection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infection. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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