infest

[ in-fest ]

verb (used with object)

1. to live in or overrun to an unwanted degree or in a troublesome manner, especially as predatory animals or vermin do:

   I had a major problem with cockroaches infesting my kitchen.

   The emerald ash borer has already infested many of the local ash trees.

2. to be numerous in, as anything undesirable or troublesome:

   the cares that infest the day.

3. Archaic. to harass.

infest

/ ɪnˈfɛst /

verb

1. to inhabit or overrun in dangerously or unpleasantly large numbers
2. (of parasites such as lice) to invade and live on or in (a host)

Derived Forms

• inˈfester, noun
• ˌinfesˈtation, noun

Other Words From

• in·fest·er noun
• re·in·fest verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of infest¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; from late Middle English, from Latin infestāre “to assail, molest,” from infestus “hostile”

Word History and Origins

Origin of infest¹

C15: from Latin infestāre to molest, from infestus hostile

Example Sentences

Survivors describe scooping it into their helmets before lowering themselves into shark-infested waters.

From Eater

Being infested with those microbes can slow a mussel’s growth — and reproduction, too.

From Science News For Students

Another woman’s rental home was infested with rats and cockroaches.

From Vox

As one expert notes, 2000 through 2011 saw high levels of pirate activity, with the Gulf of Aden area off the coast of East Africa becoming the most pirate-infested part of the world, and the most dangerous for cargo ships.

From Singularity Hub 

Today, the roughly four dozen known species of Rafflesiaceae all infest vines from a single genus, Tetrastigma.

From Quanta Magazine

If the actions of men are necessary, if men are not free, what right has society to punish the wicked who infest it?

From Project Gutenberg

The horrible staring eyes began again to infest his journey, and seemed to accompany him wherever he went.

From Project Gutenberg

The sultry nights in Chorillos are rendered doubly unpleasant by the swarms of vermin which infest the houses.

From Project Gutenberg

The same holds true of the multitude of nature demons that infest field and forest and the vicinity of streams and gorges.

From Project Gutenberg

The Bark lice or Scale-insects should also be collected in connection with the leaves or twigs which they infest.

From Project Gutenberg