infiltrate
verb
in·fil·trate
ˈin-(ˌ)fil-ˌtrāt 
in-ˈfil-
in-ˈfil-
infiltrated; infiltrating
1
: to enter or become established in gradually or unobtrusively usually for subversive purposes
the intelligence staff had been infiltrated by spies
2
: to pass (troops) singly or in small groups through gaps in the enemy line
3
: to pass into or through (a substance) by filtering or permeating
4
: to cause (something, such as a liquid) to permeate something by penetrating its pores or interstices
: to enter, permeate, or pass through a substance or area by filtering or by insinuating gradually
infiltrate
noun
Examples of infiltrate in a Sentence
The gang was infiltrated by undercover agents.
Attempts to infiltrate undercover agents into the gang have failed.
Water can easily infiltrate the soil.
Recent Examples on the Web
Amid the chaos of the Pittsburgh emergency room where bodily fluids ruin budding med students' scrubs and doctors cut off their ankle monitors, Jesse Van Horn, a silver fox nurse with a nose ring has been infiltrating our screens — and the internet has taken notice.
—
Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Bad actors are infiltrating companies to steal data, plant malware, or steal funds.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
The mission began in fairly standard form: The SEALs infiltrated a bleak and dusty corner of Ramadi that happened to overlook a marketplace and, unbeknownst to them, also sat across from the lair of the Iraqi insurgents.
—Fred Schruers, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
Once confined to the clinical world, exosome technology has started to infiltrate at-home skincare products.
—Victoria Jowett, Refinery29, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for infiltrate
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Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Bad actors are infiltrating companies to steal data, plant malware, or steal funds.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
The mission began in fairly standard form: The SEALs infiltrated a bleak and dusty corner of Ramadi that happened to overlook a marketplace and, unbeknownst to them, also sat across from the lair of the Iraqi insurgents.
—Fred Schruers, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
Once confined to the clinical world, exosome technology has started to infiltrate at-home skincare products.
—Victoria Jowett, Refinery29, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for infiltrate
Cite this Entry
“Infiltrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infiltrate. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
infiltrate
verb
in·fil·trate
in-ˈfil-ˌtrāt
ˈin-(ˌ)fil-
ˈin-(ˌ)fil-
infiltrated; infiltrating
1
: to pass into or through by filtering
2
: to enter or become established gradually or secretly
Medical Definition
infiltrate
1 of 2 verb
in·fil·trate
in-ˈfil-ˌtrāt
ˈin-(ˌ)
ˈin-(ˌ)
infiltrated; infiltrating
1
: to cause (as a liquid) to permeate something by penetrating its pores or interstices
infiltrate tissue with a local anesthetic
2
: to pass into or through (a substance) by filtering or permeating
: to enter, permeate, or pass through a substance or area
infiltrate
2 of 2 noun
: something that passes or is caused to pass into or through something by permeating or filtering
especially
: a substance that passes into the bodily tissues and forms an abnormal accumulation
a lung infiltrate
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