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 On the screen, the room glimpsed stitches from the emergency operations, the mold and pus infecting him, the brutal anti-glamour of a homicide victim. — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026 The baby had evidence of measles virus in its lung tissue, Diamantoni said, suggesting that it was infected by its mother before birth. — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2026 According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), nine out of ten people who come in close contact with someone who is infected will become ill if they are not protected, especially by vaccination. — Eva Flowe august 31, Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2026 Also in Nampa, records show that Wellspring Health and Rehabilitation of Cascadia was fined $30,927 in July 2024 after inspectors reported a COVID-19 outbreak that grew to infect 33 of the home’s 84 residents, as well as 16 staff, in four days. — Matan Josephy, Idaho Statesman, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for infect

Recent Examples of Synonyms for infect

Verb

Veterinarians determined that the snake's venom poisoned Samba, prompting them to give her antivenin.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Glutathione is processed in sterile compounding pharmacies, and there have been cases of people getting poisoned due to contamination at these facilities, Sack said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of poison

Verb

Their concentrations then increase at successively higher trophic levels (levels of the food chain) as organisms consume contaminated prey.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
It was shut down in 2008 and has sat dormant since, contaminated by hazardous chemicals in the ground that GM never cleaned up.

— Greta Reich, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of contaminate

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infeasible

infect

infected

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“Infect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infect. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of infect

verb

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