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
The stormers and the anchor group had made it to the Ukrainian trenches on the ridge and were waiting to infiltrate Tabaivka.
—
Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Additional cyber threats Besides influence operations, Chinese cyber actors have also infiltrated important networks used by its adversaries.
—Koh Ewe, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
Why has shopping completely infiltrated, not just TikTok, but a lot of our video feeds?
—Lauren Goode Michael Calore, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2024
Moscow’s initial plan was to have its agents infiltrate the highest levels of Ukrainian society ahead of its invasion and then seize power from within.
—Kostiantyn Khudov, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Lemonade vendors infiltrated New York’s thriving street food scene—and some of them were pretty dodgy.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024
With Afghanistan once again under Taliban rule, the group has been moving into neighboring former Soviet states and infiltrating Russia through the stream of migrant workers, many of them Tajiks, who keep Russia’s construction and service industries running.
—Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Mar. 2024
In a world where AI is infiltrating nearly every sector of business, nothing is off the table...not even bread, specifically sourdough bread.
—Molly Peck, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024
The move would also put Washington at odds with its Western allies over how to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid accusations that Hamas fighters have infiltrated the agency.
—Robert Jimison, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Additional cyber threats Besides influence operations, Chinese cyber actors have also infiltrated important networks used by its adversaries.
—Koh Ewe, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
Why has shopping completely infiltrated, not just TikTok, but a lot of our video feeds?
—Lauren Goode Michael Calore, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2024
Moscow’s initial plan was to have its agents infiltrate the highest levels of Ukrainian society ahead of its invasion and then seize power from within.
—Kostiantyn Khudov, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Lemonade vendors infiltrated New York’s thriving street food scene—and some of them were pretty dodgy.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024
With Afghanistan once again under Taliban rule, the group has been moving into neighboring former Soviet states and infiltrating Russia through the stream of migrant workers, many of them Tajiks, who keep Russia’s construction and service industries running.
—Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Mar. 2024
In a world where AI is infiltrating nearly every sector of business, nothing is off the table...not even bread, specifically sourdough bread.
—Molly Peck, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024
The move would also put Washington at odds with its Western allies over how to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid accusations that Hamas fighters have infiltrated the agency.
—Robert Jimison, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'infiltrate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near infiltrate
Cite this Entry
“Infiltrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infiltrate. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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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