infest

verb

in·​fest in-ˈfest 

infested; infesting; infests

transitive verb

1

: to spread or swarm in or over in a troublesome manner

a slum infested with crime

shark-infested waters

2

: to live in or on as a parasite

infestant

in-ˈfe-stənt 

noun

infestation

ˌin-ˌfe-ˈstā-shən 

noun

infester

in-ˈfe-stər 

noun

Synonyms

• overrun

Examples of infest in a Sentence

in desperation, we called in an exterminator because the house was infested with ants

Recent Examples on the Web

Clean Up Foliage Remove any damaged or infested parts of your plants. —Macie Stump, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2024

Photo: Jeenah Moon/The Washington Post via Getty Images Unlike the series of plagues Yahweh unleashed on the Egyptians in the Book of Exodus, our world has become infested with something far more annoying: celebrity look-alike contests. —Michael Savio, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2024

In addition to the body, the unfurnished apartment had soiled carpet and was infested with flies and roaches. —Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 13 Nov. 2024

Other types of beetles, such as bark beetles, also occasionally infest wet areas of a home. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French infester, from Latin infestare, from infestus hostile

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

infest

verb

in·​fest in-ˈfest 

1

: to spread or swarm in or over in a troublesome manner

a neighborhood infested with crime

shark-infested waters

2

: to live in or on as a parasite

horses infested with worms

infestation

ˌin-ˌfes-ˈtā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

infest

transitive verb

in·​fest in-ˈfest 

: to live in or on as a parasite

the flea that infests cats

horses infested with worms

compare infect