pest

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noun

Definition of PEST

1

a widespread disease resulting in a high rate of death <one of the great pests of the 20th century was the influenza epidemic of 1918, which killed millions across the globe>

Synonyms pest, pestilence

Related Words murrain; epidemic, pandemic; affection, affliction, ailment, contagion, illness, infection, infirmity, malady, sickness; blight, curse, scourge

2

one who is obnoxiously annoying <stop being a pest to your sister and go find something else to do>

Synonyms annoyance, annoyer, bother, gadfly, gnawer, nudnik (also nudnick), pain, persecutor, pest, tease, teaser

Related Words headache; harrier, heckler, interrupter (also interruptor); hassle, plague; harasser, molester, tormentor (also tormenter), torturer

Near Antonyms charmer, smoothy (or smoothie); comforter, solacer, soother

3

something that is a source of irritation <a never-ending construction project that continues to be a pest for motorists>

Synonyms aggravation, aggro [British], bother, botheration, bugbear, exasperation, frustration, hair shirt, hassle, headache, inconvenience, irk, irritant, nuisance, peeve, pest, rub, ruffle, thorn, trial, vexation

Related Words discomfort, fleabite, pinprick; affront, insult, offense (or offence); upset, worry; affliction, albatross, burden, cross, curse, menace, millstone, plague, sore; anxiety, plight, predicament, tribulation, trouble; hang-up, pet peeve, problem; annoyer, disturber, harasser, mischief, offender; pandora's box

Near Antonyms delight, joy, pleasure