fester

USAGE SUMMARY

"fester" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a verb that means to rot, or to worsen over time. For example: "Left out in the sun, the uncovered wound began to fester and become infected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The divisions in Britain continued to fester, over the religion and thus the identity of the king.

The Guardian - Books

It is necessary, and indeed a duty, to honour their memory, for whenever memory fades, it means that evil allows wounds to fester," he said in St Peter's Basilica.

The Guardian

This is a sport that was more or less cut loose by successive governments in the 1980s, left to fester in its decaying corrugated infrastructure, abandoned to its disasters.

The Guardian - Sport

There's a fear that, if left unacknowledged, these hurts can fester.

The Guardian

This will fester until a proper open discussion is allowed by the political class.

The Guardian

Wolverhampton South West, Mr Budgen's seat, was once held by Enoch Powell, and threats such as Mr Budgen's that "a boil will fester, and later burst" have played well there in the past.

The Economist

Many industrialising economies share the rich world's fear of cheap Chinese exports.As multilateral talks fester, regional trade agreements are thriving.

The Economist

Its demographic dividend will yield only a fraction of what it could, and the problem of low-quality employment will fester.

The Economist

The lawsuits fester in three different categories.

The Economist

MERS may fester in other animals.

The Economist

The country has no formal creditor "cramdown" mechanism, so the level of support that would be needed to force through the deal is as clear as sand.On the plus side, some in the Saudi government will be loth to let this sore fester at a time when it is trying to attract more capital from foreigners.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fester" to describe problems or feelings that worsen over time due to neglect or suppression. This adds a layer of depth, suggesting a hidden or underlying issue.

Common error

Avoid using "fester" when a simple description of something getting worse suffices. "Fester" implies an underlying issue is being ignored, leading to the worsening condition.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fester" is as an intransitive verb, describing a state of decay or worsening. As Ludwig AI confirms, it follows standard grammatical rules and describes a process of internal decay or suppressed aggravation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fester" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb that describes the process of something worsening or decaying, often due to neglect. As Ludwig AI points out, the word typically conveys a sense of underlying issues becoming more problematic over time. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, though it is also used in formal business and scientific writing. If you want to express that something is getting worse in a hidden or neglected way, "fester" is a strong and appropriate choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deteriorate

Indicates a decline in quality or condition, similar to "fester" but without necessarily implying infection or hidden damage.

worsen

A general term for becoming worse, which "fester" specifies with a sense of hidden, internal decay.

aggravate

Implies making something already bad even worse, close to the sense of a problem being allowed to "fester".

exacerbate

Similar to "aggravate", but suggests a more significant and rapid worsening.

decline

Describes a gradual decrease or weakening, similar to the slow worsening implied by "fester".

degenerate

Suggests a decline into a lower or worse state, with a sense of moral or structural decay.

rot

Focuses on the decaying aspect of "fester", often used in a literal, physical sense.

smolder

Emphasizes the hidden or suppressed nature of a problem that "festers", like a fire burning without a flame.

intensify

Focuses on increasing strength or severity, related to the idea of a problem "festering" and becoming more acute.

go wrong

A more general way of saying something is deteriorating, lacking the specific implications of "fester".

FAQs

How can I use "fester" in a sentence?

You can use "fester" to describe a wound becoming infected or a problem worsening over time due to neglect. For example, "The political divisions began to fester after the election."

What can I say instead of "fester"?

You can use alternatives like "deteriorate", "worsen", or "aggravate" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "fester" and "worsen"?

"Fester" implies a hidden or underlying problem that worsens over time, often due to neglect. "Worsen" is a more general term for something simply becoming worse.

Which is correct, "let it fester" or "leave it fester"?

"Let it fester" is the correct idiomatic expression. It means to allow a problem to worsen by ignoring it.