to fester

Examples

• All

• Do not allow a small issue to fester into an open, mortal wound!

  Academic text (2006)

• If left untreated, the cut on his arm began to fester and produce pus.

• And so it just continued to fester and and and lead to more and more conflict.

  Anything Goes With James English

• Sometimes these things take a while to fester.

  That's What I Am (2011)

• Some conflicts have been left to fester for generations.

  Harvard University

• I'd rather answer his question and bring truth to light than allow animosity to fester.

  His Only Son (2023)

• We cannot afford to relegate discord to the background where it will only fester and grow.

  Academic text (2005)

• And that resentment ends up festering and their relationship is slowly eroding.

• Unaddressed problems can fester, impair performance, and lead to more costly confrontations later on.

  Academic text (2017)

• Rather than discussing their differences, they chose to let the tension fester over time.

Synonyms

S

to suppurate

vsto fester

• Specialized

2 9.9

To form and send out pus from a wound because of infection

becomes infected and worsens over time through neglect

M

to maturate

vsto fester

• Specialized

1 9.9

To develop fully, as a wound or cell that forms pus

becomes infected and worsens rather than simply ripening

M

to mature

vsto fester

• Specialized

8.9

To cause a wound or boil to form pus and open

is the wound itself becoming infected and getting worse over time

Antonyms

I

to improve

∞ 1.0

To make something better

H

to heal

726 1.2

To become healthy again after an injury, illness, or emotional pain

How Serious

to rot

139 4.6

to fester

48 7.0

to worsen

65 3.9

Surface Forms

Etymology