infest
Swarm and occupy
To infest is to be present in large numbers, typically causing damage or disease.
Pests infest—rats, roaches, lice, termites: The apartment was infested with bedbugs.
The word implies unwanted invasion and suggests something difficult to eradicate.
Figuratively, problems or undesirable people can infest a place: Pickpockets infest the tourist areas.
Harmful small animals
- rodentsGnawing mammal order
- insectsSix-legged arthropods
- cockroachesHardy household insect pests
- termitesWood-eating social insects
bedbugs · fleas · mice · rats · ants · locusts · mosquitoes · wasps
Abundantly full of
- overrunSpread throughout uncontrollably
- hordeDisorganized, overwhelming crowd
- colonyDependent territorial settlement
- hiveBee dwelling structure
nest · breeding · multiplication · proliferation · invasion · outbreak · plague · explosion
Bloodsucking scalp insects
- ticksParasites or clock sounds
- mitesMinuscule parasitic arachnids
- wormsLimbless burrowing invertebrates
- tapewormsSegmented intestinal parasites
leeches · nematodes · hookworms · roundworms · flukes · botfly · scabies · mange
vermin
Harmful small animals
- rodentsGnawing mammal order
- insectsSix-legged arthropods
- cockroachesHardy household insect pests
termites · bedbugs · fleas · mice · rats · ants · locusts · mosquitoes · wasps · hornets
teeming
Abundantly full of
- overrunSpread throughout uncontrollably
- hordeDisorganized, overwhelming crowd
- colonyDependent territorial settlement
hive · nest · breeding · multiplication · proliferation · invasion · outbreak · plague · explosion · crawling
lice
Bloodsucking scalp insects
- ticksParasites or clock sounds
- mitesMinuscule parasitic arachnids
- wormsLimbless burrowing invertebrates
tapeworms · leeches · nematodes · hookworms · roundworms · flukes · botfly · scabies · mange · ringworm
blight
Plant disease causing decay
mildew · decay · canker · rust · infection · contagion · pathogen · contamination · epidemic · pestilence
pollute
Make impure harmfully
corrupt · spoil · befoul · dirty · filth · sewage · toxins · impurity · adulterate · poison
- pest infestationHarmful organisms colonizing space
- flea infestationParasitic insect outbreak
- insect infestationHarmful bug population explosion
- lice infestationParasitic scalp colonization
- tick infestationExcessive parasitic arachnid presence