zombification
Becoming the undead
Zombification is the process of becoming or being made into a zombie.
In horror fiction, this happens through bites, viruses, or dark magic.
The word extends to any transformation that strips away autonomy or awareness: the zombification of workers through mind-numbing routines, social media's zombification of discourse.
In Haitian Vodou tradition, zombification refers to the alleged practice of using potions to render victims seemingly dead, then reviving them as slaves.
Deceased yet animate
- reanimationRestoration of life
- ghoulUndead flesh-eating demon
- revenantReturned from death
- corpseDeceased human body
shambling · mindless · horde · apocalypse · outbreak · survival · bite · infection
Microscopic infectious agent
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
- pandemicGlobal disease outbreak
- pathogenDisease-causing microorganism
plague · infection · transmission · spread · contamination · quarantine · patient zero · carrier
Folk magic, often Caribbean
- necromancyCommunicating with the deceased
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- curseInvoked harm through words
- hexMalevolent incantation
sorcery · incantation · shaman · witchcraft · spellcasting · conjuration · potion · talisman
Restoration of life
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
- metamorphosisProfound biological restructuring
- conversionAct of changing states
- turningAct of rotating
transformation · decay · deterioration · corruption · death · resurrection · revival · change
Lack of awareness
- conformityAdherence to norms
- automationSelf-operating system design
- brainwashingCoercive psychological manipulation
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
groupthink · obedience · drone · sleepwalking · numbness · desensitization · apathy · corporate
undead
Deceased yet animate
- reanimationRestoration of life
- ghoulUndead flesh-eating demon
- revenantReturned from death
corpse · shambling · mindless · horde · apocalypse · outbreak · survival · bite · infection · decay
virus
Microscopic infectious agent
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
- pandemicGlobal disease outbreak
pathogen · plague · infection · transmission · spread · contamination · quarantine · patient zero · carrier · immunity
voodoo
Folk magic, often Caribbean
- necromancyCommunicating with the deceased
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- curseInvoked harm through words
hex · sorcery · incantation · shaman · witchcraft · spellcasting · conjuration · potion · talisman · occult
reanimation
Restoration of life
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
- metamorphosisProfound biological restructuring
- conversionAct of changing states
turning · transformation · decay · deterioration · corruption · death · resurrection · revival · change · transmogrification
mindlessness
Lack of awareness
- conformityAdherence to norms
- automationSelf-operating system design
- brainwashingCoercive psychological manipulation
indoctrination · groupthink · obedience · drone · sleepwalking · numbness · desensitization · apathy · corporate · consumerism
- magical effectsinvisibility, teleportation, levitation, enchantment, hex
- magical transformationshapeshifting, metamorphosis, polymorph, transfiguration, transmogrification
- supernatural statesenchanted, bewitched, hexed, cursed, possessed
- undeadvampire, ghost, lich, skeleton, ghoul
- cursescurse, curses, hex, hexes, jinx
- Sci-fi powersteleportation, time travel, mind meld, warp drive, hyperdrive
zombificationresurrection
Revival from death
revival · revivification · resuscitation · awakening · vivification
zombificationliberation
Release from constraint
emancipation · enlightenment · empowerment · self-actualization · deprogramming
zombificationrejuvenation
Restoration of youthful vigor
revitalization · vivification · healing · restoration · regeneration
zombie, zombies, zombified, zombielike, zombify, zombifies, zombifying