infects
Passes germs along
Infects is the third-person singular form of infect, meaning to transmit a disease-causing agent to a person, animal, or plant.
Pathogens like bacteria and viruses infect hosts by entering and multiplying within them: The flu infects millions every winter.
The word extends to computers, where malware infects systems by corrupting or compromising them.
Figuratively, attitudes and emotions can spread person to person: Her enthusiasm infects everyone around her.
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- parasiteOne exploiting a host
- fungusSpore-bearing organism
- microbeMicroscopic living organism
pathogen · prion · germ · bacterium · spirochete · protozoan · retrovirus · coronavirus
Widespread disease occurrence
- pandemicGlobal disease outbreak
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- endemicNative to one area
- infestationPest takeover situation
surge · spread · proliferation · contagion · plague · cluster · hotspot · superspreader
Transmissible between people
- communicableCapable of being spread
- spreadingExtending over space
- transmissibleAble to spread between individuals
- airborneTraveling through air
waterborne · droplets · contact · vector · carrier · host · reservoir · zoonosis
Harmful computer programs
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- computerElectronic calculating device
- systemConnected parts forming whole
- networkInterconnected system
worm · ransomware · spyware · corrupts · compromises · hacker · cybersecurity · breach
Flow through vessels
- tissueDisposable soft paper
- organBody's working component
- cellsBasic biological units
- woundCoiled, or an injury
lungs · brain · liver · skin · mucosa · lymph nodes · systemic · localized
Dangerous inflammatory infection response
- pneumoniaInfected, inflamed lung tissue
- meningitisMembrane inflammation around brain
- tuberculosisMycobacterial lung disease
- malariaMosquito-borne parasitic infection
cholera · typhoid · hepatitis · encephalitis · cellulitis · gangrene · abscess
bacteria
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
microbe · pathogen · prion · germ · bacterium · spirochete · protozoan · retrovirus · coronavirus · influenza
epidemic
Widespread disease occurrence
infestation · surge · spread · proliferation · contagion · plague · cluster · hotspot · superspreader · containment
contagious
Transmissible between people
- communicableCapable of being spread
- spreadingExtending over space
- transmissibleAble to spread between individuals
airborne · waterborne · droplets · contact · vector · carrier · host · reservoir · zoonosis · exposure
malware
Harmful computer programs
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- computerElectronic calculating device
- systemConnected parts forming whole
network · worm · ransomware · spyware · corrupts · compromises · hacker · cybersecurity · breach · payload
bloodstream
Flow through vessels
wound · lungs · brain · liver · skin · mucosa · lymph nodes · systemic · localized · invasive
sepsis
Dangerous inflammatory infection response
- pneumoniaInfected, inflamed lung tissue
- meningitisMembrane inflammation around brain
- tuberculosisMycobacterial lung disease
malaria · cholera · typhoid · hepatitis · encephalitis · cellulitis · gangrene · abscess
infectscures
Remedies that heal
heals · disinfects · treats · vaccinates · immunizes
infectspurifies
Removes unwanted substances
disinfects · cleanses · sanitizes · sterilizes · decontaminates
- 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, disinfected, infecting, disinfecting