Infest
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ɪnˈfɛst/ · Part of speech verb
Quick meaning: Infest is a verb meaning (transitive) To inhabit a place in unpleasantly large numbers; to plague, harass.
Meaning
(transitive) To inhabit a place in unpleasantly large numbers; to plague, harass.
More Meanings
- (pathology, of a parasite) To invade a host plant or animal.
- (obsolete) Mischievous; hurtful; harassing.
- (obsolete) Hostility.
Example Sentences
Insects are infesting my basement!
He stayed not t’advize, which way were best His foe t’assayle, or how himselfe to gard, But with fierce fury and with force infest Upon him ran […]
I come now to speak of the Pyrates infesting the West-Indies, where they are more numerous than in any other Parts of the World, on several Reasons […]
It has often happened, that whole caravans have perished in crossing those deserts, either by the burning winds that infest them, or by the sands which are raised by the tempest, and overwhelm every creature in certain ruin.
Word Forms
- infests
- infesting
- infested
Synonyms for infest
Depending on context, synonyms include beride, plague, overrun.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include overrun, beleaguer, perplex, fester, pester, curse.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.