IELTS Anvil

fester

CEFR: C2

Become septic; metaphorically, allow negative emotions, resentment, or problems to worsen through neglect.

Synonyms

smolder
suppurate

Common Collocations

allow to fester
fester beneath the surface
fester into resentment

Example Sentence

Ignoring community grievances allows social discontent to fester and eventually erupt into civil unrest.

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