infector
One who contaminates
An infector is someone or something that transmits disease or contamination.
The word appears in medical contexts The primary infector was never identified and extends to computing, where an infector is malware that spreads to other files or systems.
Occasionally used figuratively for anyone who spreads harmful ideas or attitudes.
One that transports
- vectorQuantity with direction
- hostOne receiving guests
- reservoirLarge water storage basin
- contactCommunication or physical touch
droplet · airborne · contamination · inoculation · incubation · contagious · asymptomatic · superspreader
Microscopic infectious agent
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- microbeMicroscopic living organism
- germDisease-causing microorganism
- parasiteOne exploiting a host
fungus · protozoa · prion · helminth · mycoplasma · spirochete · amoeba · vibrio
Harmful computer programs
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- wormLimbless soil invertebrate
- ransomwareHostage-taking code
- botnetRemotely controlled infected computers
payload · exploit · zero-day · hacker · cyberattack · phishing · backdoor · rootkit
Sudden eruption of trouble
- pandemicGlobal disease outbreak
- endemicNative to one area
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
- spreadTo distribute widely
proliferation · cluster · hotspot · surge · wave · quarantine · containment · isolation
Deadly epidemic disease
- pestilenceFatal epidemic disease
- Black DeathMedieval bubonic plague pandemic
- bubonicOf groin-node swellings
- Typhoid MaryInfectious but symptom-free spreader
Yersinia pestis · Justinian · cholera · smallpox · leper · miasma · lazaretto · plague doctor
carrier
One that transports
contact · droplet · airborne · contamination · inoculation · incubation · contagious · asymptomatic · superspreader · patient zero
virus
Microscopic infectious agent
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- microbeMicroscopic living organism
- germDisease-causing microorganism
parasite · fungus · protozoa · prion · helminth · mycoplasma · spirochete · amoeba · vibrio · salmonella
malware
Harmful computer programs
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- wormLimbless soil invertebrate
- ransomwareHostage-taking code
botnet · payload · exploit · zero-day · hacker · cyberattack · phishing · backdoor · rootkit · spyware
outbreak
Sudden eruption of trouble
spread · proliferation · cluster · hotspot · surge · wave · quarantine · containment · isolation · contact tracing
plague
Deadly epidemic disease
- pestilenceFatal epidemic disease
- Black DeathMedieval bubonic plague pandemic
- bubonicOf groin-node swellings
Typhoid Mary · Yersinia pestis · Justinian · cholera · smallpox · leper · miasma · lazaretto · plague doctor
infectordisinfector
Agent that kills germs
healer · sterilizer · curer · purifier · vaccinator
- ear infectionInflamed auditory canal
- sinus infectionInflamed nasal cavity illness
- infectious diseasesPathogen-caused transmissible conditions
- viral infectionDisease caused by microbes
- eye infectionPathogen invading ocular tissue
- kidney infectionBacterial illness of renal organ
infect, infection, disinfect, infected, infectious, disinfectant, infects, disinfection, disinfects