festered
Decayed while neglected
Festered is the past tense of fester—to rot, decay, or become infected.
A wound festers when it fills with pus instead of healing: The cut festered for days before she saw a doctor.
Figuratively, grievances and resentments fester when left unaddressed, growing worse over time: Years of unspoken anger had festered between them.
Localized pus collection
- ulcerErosive tissue wound
- sorePainful or annoyed
- pusInfected tissue fluid
- gangreneTissue death from bloodlessness
sepsis · suppurate · inflamed · swelling · carbuncle · cellulitis · purulent · lesion
Sharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- angerIntense hostile emotion
vindictiveness · malice · spite · acrimony · rancor · ill-will · hatred · grievance
Organic breakdown process
- putrefactionBacterial breakdown of tissue
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- spoilageFood degradation process
moldering · putrescence · foulness · rancid · corruption · rottenness · taint · blight
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- contagionDisease spread by contact
- sepsisDangerous inflammatory infection response
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- feverElevated body temperature
microbes · pathogen · contamination · infestation · septicemia · purulence · virulent · putrid
Not yet handled
- neglectedNot given proper attention
- lingeringRemaining beyond expected duration
- untreatedNot given care
- worseningBecoming more severe
brewing · building · mounting · escalating · deteriorating · prolonged · chronic · persistent
abscess
Localized pus collection
gangrene · sepsis · suppurate · inflamed · swelling · carbuncle · cellulitis · purulent · lesion · necrosis
bitterness
Sharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
anger · vindictiveness · malice · spite · acrimony · rancor · ill-will · hatred · grievance · smoldering
rot
Organic breakdown process
- putrefactionBacterial breakdown of tissue
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
spoilage · moldering · putrescence · foulness · rancid · corruption · rottenness · taint · blight · rank
bacteria
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- contagionDisease spread by contact
- sepsisDangerous inflammatory infection response
- inflammationProtective tissue response
fever · microbes · pathogen · contamination · infestation · septicemia · purulence · virulent · putrid · toxic
unaddressed
Not yet handled
- neglectedNot given proper attention
- lingeringRemaining beyond expected duration
- untreatedNot given care
worsening · brewing · building · mounting · escalating · deteriorating · prolonged · chronic · persistent · ignored