Synonyms of infectednext
: having an infection : contaminated with an infective agent (such as a bacterium or virus)
an infected wound
Through a number of different means, these viruses persist at very low, hard-to-detect levels in infected cells.The Journal of the American Medical Association
She explains that leptospirosis bacteria are shed in the urine of infected animals.Tania Banak
The fungus produces as many as 1 million conidia per square centimeter of infected leaf surface.G. B. Lucas

infected

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of infect

Examples of infected in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
That figure covers all rabies exposures in the state, not just people exposed to the infected goats. Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026 The infected saplings are the descendants of trees that survived the blight. Susanne Rust follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Officials added that people cannot become infected with Naegleria fowleri by swallowing contaminated water; however, the amoeba can enter the body when it is forcefully introduced, such as through the nose into the brain. Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026 The measles virus can survive on surfaces for as long as two hours after an infected person has already left the area. Irene Wright, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for infected

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of infect

First Known Use

Adjective

1534, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of infected was in 1534

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Infected.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infected. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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