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fester

verb
fes·​ter | \ ˈfe-stÉ™r How to pronounce fester (audio) \
festered; festering\ ˈfe-​st(É™-​)riÅ‹ How to pronounce festering (audio) \

Definition of fester

 (Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to generate pus The wound became inflamed and festered.
2 : putrefy, rot festering carrion
3a : to cause increasing poisoning, irritation, or bitterness : rankle dissent festered unchecked His resentment festered for years.
b : to undergo or exist in a state of progressive deterioration allowed slums to fester

transitive verb

: to make inflamed or corrupt

fester

noun

Definition of fester (Entry 2 of 2)

: a suppurating sore : pustule
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Synonyms for fester

Synonyms: Verb

break down, corrupt, decay, decompose, disintegrate, foul, mold, molder, perish [chiefly British], putrefy, rot, spoil

Synonyms: Noun

boil, hickey, papule, pimple, pock, pustule, whelk, zit [slang]

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Did You Know?

Noun

Fester first entered English as a noun in the early 14th century. It was originally used as we now use the word fistula, for an abnormal passage leading from an abscess or hollow organ and permitting passage of fluids or secretions. It later came to refer to a sore that discharges pus. The connection between "fester" and "fistula" is no accident - both descend from Latin fistula, which has the same meaning as the English word but can also mean "pipe" or "tube" or "a kind of ulcer." "Fester" made the trip from Latin to English by way of Anglo-French. By the end of the 14th century, it was also being used as a verb meaning "to generate pus," a use that has since developed extended senses implying a worsening state.

Examples of fester in a Sentence

Verb

 His wounds festered for days before he got medical attention. His feelings of resentment have festered for years. We should deal with these problems now instead of allowing them to fester.

Noun

 pus oozed out of the fester
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Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

 Compounding—and potentially supersizing—those problems is the Trump administration's festering trade fight with China. — Alain Sherter, CBS News, "3 reasons the U.S. economy isn't set to fall off a cliff," 20 Aug. 2019 To grasp the anger in Derry, recall that a lack of higher education has been a festering grievance in this mainly Catholic city for over 50 years. — The Economist, "Brexit or not, Derry will think in all-island terms," 8 Aug. 2019 The summer season has ripped off the thin scab that covered an American wound, revealing a festering disagreement about the nature and origins of the United States. — Victor Davis Hanson, The Mercury News, "Hanson: Silicon Valley billionaires, others think U.S. is forever flawed," 21 July 2019 As the pictured sun sinks slowly in the West, a strip of the sea erupts into a glorious rainbow or a festering gash, and the horizon lights up like a nuclear flash. — Christopher Knight, latimes.com, "Natural landscapes turned noxious in photography on view at Blum & Poe," 22 June 2019 Then there’s the Saudis’ festering feud with Turkey, and their cold war with Iran. — Karen Elliott House, WSJ, "Where Is Crown Prince Mohammed?," 11 Feb. 2019 This illuminates a partisan divide exposing complicated if not a dangerous fissure in America that promise to fester after Trump leaves office. — Phillip Morris, cleveland.com, "Trump’s tweet about congresswomen offers America a dangerous glimpse of itself: Philip Morris," 21 July 2019 In the humid South Texas heat, the remains of Bazán and Longoria festered. — Lauren Cook, CNN, "Their ancestors were slain a century ago along the US-Mexico border. They say now is the time to retell the horror," 20 July 2019 Those wounds fester in spite of contemporary ties that have seen Korean TV shows, pop stars, and beauty trends become hugely popular in Japan, while Korea sends the most tourists to Japan, after China. — Jane Li, Quartz, "Japan’s doing to Samsung what the US did to Huawei. But why?," 17 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fester.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of fester

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for fester

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French festre, from Latin fistula pipe, fistulous ulcer

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More Definitions for fester

fester

verb
How to pronounce fester (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of fester

: to become painful and infected
: to become worse as time passes

fester

verb
fes·​ter | \ ˈfe-stÉ™r How to pronounce fester (audio) \
festered; festering

Kids Definition of fester

: to become painfully red and sore and usually full of pus The wound festered.

fester

noun
fes·​ter | \ ˈfes-tÉ™r How to pronounce fester (audio) \

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