infested; infesting; infests
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
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
Clothes moths can also eat away at upholstery, and termites can infest anything made of wood.
—
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2024
In the community’s first-floor apartments, Beasley said, the stormwater destroyed the carpeting and kitchenettes, and also infested the building with mildew.
—Lauren Brensel, Orlando Sentinel, 26 July 2024
Clusters of these caterpillars are voracious feeders and plants infested with cross-striped cabbageworm larvae are often completely skeletonized, while adjacent plants may be left undamaged.
—Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 27 July 2024
The infestation is believed to have originated from a nursery stock shipped from Riverside County in September 2023, which was infested by the red ants and spread to the surrounding property.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 24 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for infest 
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2024
In the community’s first-floor apartments, Beasley said, the stormwater destroyed the carpeting and kitchenettes, and also infested the building with mildew.
—Lauren Brensel, Orlando Sentinel, 26 July 2024
Clusters of these caterpillars are voracious feeders and plants infested with cross-striped cabbageworm larvae are often completely skeletonized, while adjacent plants may be left undamaged.
—Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 27 July 2024
The infestation is believed to have originated from a nursery stock shipped from Riverside County in September 2023, which was infested by the red ants and spread to the surrounding property.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 24 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for infest
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'infest.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Infest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infest. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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