infest
[verb]
Synonyms: overrun, beset, invade, penetrate, permeate, ravage, swarm, throng

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Related Words: abound, crawl, swarm, teem, annoy, harass, harry, pester, plague, worry

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

in‧fest /ɪnˈfest/ verb [transitive usually passive]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: infester, from Latin, from infestus 'angry and unfriendly']

1. if insects, rats etc infest a place, there are a lot of them and they usually cause damage
be infested with something
The kitchen was infested with cockroaches.
shark-infested/rat-infested etc
shark-infested waters

2. if things or people you do not want infest a place, there are too many of them:
an area infested with holiday homes
—infestation /ˌɪnfeˈsteɪʃən/ noun [uncountable and countable]

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲