Definitions

infective

[in-fek-tiv] / ɪnˈfɛk tɪv /

ADJECTIVE

catching

Synonyms

STRONG

endemic epidemic pandemic taking

WEAK

communicable dangerous epizootic infectious miasmatic pestiferous pestilential transferable transmittable

Antonyms

WEAK

uncontagious

ADJECTIVE

infectious

Synonyms

STRONGEST

contagious toxic virulent

WEAK

communicable contaminating corrupting defiling diseased epidemic mephitic miasmic noxious pestilent pestilential poisoning polluting transferable transmittable vitiating

Antonyms

STRONGEST

harmless nonpoisonous

WEAK

antiseptic germless non-infectious uncommunicable uncontagious

ADJECTIVE

mephitical

Synonyms

WEAK

bad baleful baneful corrupt corruptive dangerous deadly deleterious destructive detrimental evil fatal hurtful lethal malicious malignant mephitic miasmatic morbid mortal nocuous noisome noxious peccant pernicious pestiferous pestilential poison septic toxic toxicant toxiferous venomous vicious viperous virulent

ADJECTIVE

pestilential

Synonyms

WEAK

baneful deadly destructive fatal harmful injurious malign malignant mephitic noxious pernicious pestilent poison septic toxic toxicant unhealthy unwholesome venomous

ADJECTIVE

poisonous

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dangerous deadly destructive fatal lethal noxious pernicious toxic venomous vicious virulent

WEAK

bad baleful baneful corrupt corruptive deleterious detrimental evil hurtful malicious malignant mephitic miasmatic morbid mortal nocuous noisome peccant pestiferous pestilential poison septic toxicant toxiferous viperous

Antonyms

STRONGEST

gentle good harmless healthful healthy helpful kind life-giving nice nonpoisonous wholesome

WEAK

benevolent non-toxic

ADJECTIVE

poison/poisonous

Synonyms

WEAK

bad baleful baneful corrupt corruptive dangerous deadly deleterious destructive detrimental evil fatal hurtful lethal malicious malignant mephitic miasmatic morbid mortal nocuous noisome noxious peccant pernicious pestiferous pestilential septic toxic toxicant toxiferous venomous vicious viperous virulent

Antonyms

WEAK

aiding antidotal assisting curing healing helpful

ADJECTIVE

toxicant

Synonyms

STRONG

bad evil mortal poison

WEAK

baleful baneful corrupt corruptive dangerous deadly deleterious destructive detrimental fatal hurtful lethal malicious malignant mephitic mephitical miasmatic morbid nocuous noisome noxious peccant pernicious pestiferous pestilential septic toxic toxiferous venomous vicious viperous virulent

Antonyms

STRONG

good honest upright virtuous

ADJECTIVE

virulent

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deadly destructive fatal malignant pernicious

WEAK

baneful harmful injurious malign mephitic poison septic toxic toxicant unhealthy unwholesome venomous

Antonyms

STRONGEST

harmless healthful helpful wholesome

WEAK

gentle healthy kind nice nonpoisonous

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.

Infective endocarditis can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed early.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2025

Infective endocarditis, also called bacterial endocarditis, is an infection caused by bacteria that enter the bloodstream and settle in the heart lining, a heart valve or a blood vessel.

From Science Daily • Dec. 13, 2023

Conclusion: "Infective amounts of live virus were contained in the six lots."

From Time Magazine Archive

Infective Conditions.—Parotitis.—Inflammation of the parotid gland may be non-suppurative or suppurative.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander

Rarely met with in the gullet and stomach, and comparatively seldom in the mouth and Infective lesions. lips, tubercular inflammation of the small intestine and peritoneum is common.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 4 "Diameter" to "Dinarchus" by Various

infective

Example Sentences

Related Words