pestiferous

adjective

pes·​tif·​er·​ous pe-ˈsti-f(ə-)rəs 

1

: dangerous to society : pernicious

2

a

: carrying or propagating infection : pestilential

b

: infected with a pestilential disease

3

: troublesome, annoying

pestiferously adverb

pestiferousness noun

Synonyms

• annoying
• irritating
• frustrating
• disturbing

Examples of pestiferous in a Sentence

a pestiferous weed that has given gardeners no end of grief

Recent Examples on the Web

Structured as entries in Emily’s field journal, the novel lays out her aims, her curmudgeonly nature and her pestiferous relationship with one Wendell Bambleby — a charismatic fellow researcher and sometime rival who Emily suspects is a fairy himself. —Amal El-Mohtar, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2023

The whole event was lousy with pestiferous Bible-banging. —Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, 12 Dec. 2017

After the Thirty Years’ War (1618-48), the Dutch were probably eager for reminders of ordinary domestic life, even pestiferous ones, and for images of quiet and tenderness. —Willard Spiegelman, WSJ, 18 Aug. 2017

Disease relies on a variety of pestiferous vectors for the transmission of infective bacteria. —Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 31 May 2016

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin pestifer pestilential, noxious, from pestis + -fer -ferous

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pestiferous

• auriferous
• calciferous
• coniferous
• vociferous
• argentiferous
• carboniferous
• fossiliferous
• manganiferous
• metalliferous
• odoriferous
• seminiferous
• titaniferous

Kids Definition

pestiferous

adjective

pes·​tif·​er·​ous pes-ˈtif-(ə-)rəs 

1

: dangerous to society : pernicious

2

: troublesome sense 2

Medical Definition

pestiferous

adjective

pes·​tif·​er·​ous pes-ˈtif-(ə-)rəs 

1

: carrying or propagating infection : pestilential

a pestiferous insect

2

: infected with a pestilential disease