Infest vs Contaminate - What's the difference?

As verbs the difference between infest and contaminate

is that infest is to inhabit a place in unpleasantly large numbers while contaminate is to introduce impurities or foreign matter to.

is (obsolete) mischievous; hurtful; harassing.

(en verb)

To inhabit a place in unpleasantly large numbers

Insects are infesting my basement!

(pathology, of a parasite) To invade a host plant or animal

(en adjective)

(obsolete) mischievous; hurtful; harassing

(Spenser)

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(contaminat)

To introduce impurities or foreign matter to.

Do not contaminate the peanut butter with the jelly.

This water is contaminated . It isn't safe to drink.

To soil or corrupt by contact; to tarnish; to pollute.

* Shakespeare

Shall we now / Contaminate our figures with base bribes?

* Goldsmith

I would neither have simplicity imposed upon, nor virtue contaminated .

* '>citation

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