Infect

To contaminate or permeate something with a disease-causing organism, leading to illness or corruption. It can also mean to contaminate or influence with a harmful, undesirable, or corrupting thing or quality, and more generally it signifies to spread to someone or something. It is derived from the Latin word 'inficere' meaning to taint or spoil. The term is broad and can be applied to both biological and metaphorical contexts.

Infect meaning with examples

• The open wound quickly began to Infect, turning red and swollen. The doctors knew they needed to act fast to prevent sepsis and the subsequent spread of the infection to the entire body.
• The politician's scandal threatened to Infect the entire party, with many fearing its reputation and financial standing would be irreparably damaged by the exposure of corruption.
• Bad habits can slowly Infect a person’s routine, creating disruption in the life of someone who had their health and career intact.
• The negativity in the office began to Infect the team's morale, with employees becoming less productive and increasingly disgruntled and bitter towards others.
• Misinformation and fake news can quickly Infect social media feeds, quickly spreading unfounded beliefs across large swaths of a population like a wildfire.