fester

[fes-ter] / ˈfɛs tər /

VERB

intensify; become inflamed

Synonyms

STRONGEST

smolder

STRONG

aggravate blister canker chafe decay gall gather irk maturate putrefy rankle rot suppurate ulcer ulcerate

Antonyms

STRONG

build delight flourish grow improve make happy please

WEAK

dissipate get better heal lessen

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At the same time, those provisions do not align with other features of the student-loan system that can allow the debt to fester for decades.

From MarketWatch

The Jewish community has warned time and again that when hatred is allowed to fester, when it is excused, normalized or mainstreamed, it inevitably leads to violence.

From The Wall Street Journal

"We saw the police stand by and do nothing and, sadly, we've seen that from that moment on hate was allowed to fester."

From Barron's

It was the most extreme expression of a wound to the body politic that has been allowed to fester.

From The Wall Street Journal

fester

Example Sentences

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