INFECT Synonyms: 62 Similar and Opposite Words

infect

verb

Definition of infect

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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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 Chemist Paul Ehrlich tested what is now recognized as the first chemotherapy drug, injecting arsphenamine, his team’s 606th compound, into a rabbit that had been infected with syphilitic ulcers. — USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 Before the update, the FDA reported that 98 people were infected with an outbreak strain of Salmonella across 17 states on July 24. — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026 In an aborted plan to roll out the news, the agency would have emphasized the importance of vaccinating people against the disease that had then infected fewer than 500 people in 19 states, the records show. — Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 18 Aug. 2026 Vesga, the first male Colombian actor to be nominated for an Emmy, plays a man, like Carol, who has not been infected and feels very much alone. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for infect

Recent Examples of Synonyms for infect

Verb

Trump is also poisoning the process at a moment when the system for casting votes in the United States really does need shoring up.

— Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
An unknown person has been poisoning mature pine trees at Burnt Cedar Beach in Incline Village since 2022, with 16 more trees targeted this July and August — a case some suspect involves a wealthy resident trying to improve their view of Lake Tahoe.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of poison

Verb

Scotland’s public water utility has recently become the first in the world to adopt a new technology that can convert contaminated laboratory plastics into material suitable for recycling.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026
In addition, John’s handling of the body contaminated some of the evidence.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of contaminate

Verb

The Yankees, meanwhile, didn’t score again after Grisham’s homer, continuing an extended stretch that has seen the Bombers’ lifeless lineup repeatedly spoil stellar starting pitching.

— Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
Lake Nona turns the ball over on downs after a bad snap spoiled what looked like a promising drive.

— Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of spoil

Verb

The environmentalists said the ranchers brought in invasive plants with their feed, and that cattle fouled the soil and waterways.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Báez worked a full count in the fourth inning, fouling off a first-pitch changeup and taking another two pitches later for a ball.

— Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of foul

Browse Nearby Words

infeasible

infect

infected

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“Infect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infect. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of infect

verb

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