What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
infest
Example
The house was infested with cockroaches. [infested: past participle]
Example
The garden was infested with weeds, making it difficult to grow anything. [infested: adjective]
invade
Example
The enemy army invaded our country and took over the capital. [invaded: past tense]
Example
I felt like my personal space was being invaded when my coworker stood too close to me. [invaded: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Invade is more commonly used than infest in everyday language. Invade is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while infest is less common and refers specifically to the presence of pests or harmful organisms.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between infest and invade?
Both infest and invade are relatively formal words and are not commonly used in casual conversation. However, invade may be slightly more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
