to affect or contaminate (a person, organ, wound, etc.) with disease-producing germs.

to affect with disease.

to taint or contaminate with something that affects quality, character, or condition unfavorably

to infect the air with poison gas.

to corrupt or affect morally

The news of the gold strike infected him with greed.

to imbue with some pernicious belief, opinion, etc.

to affect with a computer virus.

to affect so as to influence feeling or action

His courage infected the others.

Law . to taint with illegality, or expose to penalty, forfeiture, etc.

to become infected.

Archaic . infected.

verb

affect , blight , corrupt , defile , disease , influence , poison , spoil , spread among , spread to , taint , touch , vitiate , canker , envenom , contaminate , pollute , soil , afflict , damage , invade