disease-ridden
Swarming with illness
Disease-ridden describes something overrun with illness or infection.
A disease-ridden slum or refugee camp is plagued by sickness, often from poor sanitation or overcrowding.
The word suggests not just the presence of disease but its dominance—conditions where illness is pervasive rather than incidental.
Figuratively, it can describe anything corrupted or degraded: a disease-ridden political system.
Becoming infected, decaying
- septicInfected with bacteria
- gangrenousAffected by tissue death
- putridDecomposed and foul-smelling
- rottingOrganic matter decomposing
ulcerated · suppurating · necrotic · abscessed · inflamed · contaminated · blighted · tainted
Able to spread disease
- spreadingExtending over space
- transmissibleAble to spread between individuals
- communicableCapable of being spread
- quarantinedIsolated to stop infection
carrier · outbreak · epidemic · pandemic · vector-borne · airborne · symptomatic · contaminating
Prone to poor health
- ailingIn poor health
- debilitatedMade weak or infirm
- enfeebledMade weak or feeble
- weakenedMade less capable
frail · infirm · bedridden · stricken · suffering · wasting · moribund · feeble
Thoroughly unclean
- unsanitaryLacking proper cleanliness
- squalorDirty, degraded living conditions
- slumImpoverished urban district
- blightedHarmed by destructive force
dilapidated · fetid · decrepit · overcrowded · impoverished · cesspool · hovel · shanty
festering
Becoming infected, decaying
- septicInfected with bacteria
- gangrenousAffected by tissue death
- putridDecomposed and foul-smelling
rotting · ulcerated · suppurating · necrotic · abscessed · inflamed · contaminated · blighted · tainted · corrupted
infectious
Able to spread disease
- spreadingExtending over space
- transmissibleAble to spread between individuals
- communicableCapable of being spread
quarantined · carrier · outbreak · epidemic · pandemic · vector-borne · airborne · symptomatic · contaminating · virulent
sickly
Prone to poor health
- ailingIn poor health
- debilitatedMade weak or infirm
- enfeebledMade weak or feeble
weakened · frail · infirm · bedridden · stricken · suffering · wasting · moribund · feeble · pallid
filthy
Thoroughly unclean
- unsanitaryLacking proper cleanliness
- squalorDirty, degraded living conditions
- slumImpoverished urban district
blighted · dilapidated · fetid · decrepit · overcrowded · impoverished · cesspool · hovel · shanty · tenement
disease-riddenhealthy
In good physical condition
disease-free · cured · uninfected · well · fit