1
as in plague
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 & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in nuisance
one who is obnoxiously annoying
stop being a pest to your sister and go find something else to do
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in headache
something that is a source of irritation
a never-ending construction project that continues to be a pest for motorists
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pest
Efforts to trap and humanely euthanize pests comes with expenses estimated at over $100 million annually.
—
Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
In addition, pests like those obnoxious mosquitoes will have longer active seasons prior to the beginning of the first freeze.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
More notable, however, is a four-minute sequence in which the film turns into an actual first-person shooter, and Reaper runs through corridors brandishing guns, grenades, and, of course, the franchise's iconic chainsaw to exterminate some unwanted pests.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 21 Oct. 2025
He’s been a pest to the other teams and has kept his composure.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pest
Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
In addition, pests like those obnoxious mosquitoes will have longer active seasons prior to the beginning of the first freeze.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
More notable, however, is a four-minute sequence in which the film turns into an actual first-person shooter, and Reaper runs through corridors brandishing guns, grenades, and, of course, the franchise's iconic chainsaw to exterminate some unwanted pests.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 21 Oct. 2025
He’s been a pest to the other teams and has kept his composure.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pest
Noun
-
Now the government is out to quash this plague of poor decision making.—
David Merritt Johns,
The Atlantic,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The Cowboys’ defense is bad and Denver’s is good, but all the same, a long dry spell or a continuation of the penalty plague will not end well this weekend.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In Shea Carney's house, those beverage bottles and cans eligible for a 10-cent deposit return have become more of a nuisance than a useful income boost.—
Keith Matheny,
Freep.com,
30 Oct. 2025
-
South Milwaukee requires exotic or wild animal owners to get a permit from the City Health Department, which can be denied if the animal poses a danger or nuisance.—
Quinn Clark,
jsonline.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
For the patents on some of Novo Nordisk’s hero products in certain regions to be running out is an inevitable headache—companies can only hold them for so long before competitors are able to launch their own products.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Symptoms may include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other ailments.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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But that conspiracy tends to manifest in the form of universal contemporary annoyances.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
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Above-Mount and Vessel Sinks What can look like an impressive statement design decision can quickly become a daily annoyance.—
Lauren Bengtson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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To eat the nopales, remove the spines (spikes, thorns, or barbs) and use them raw in salads or cooked in soups or tacos.—
Barbie Cervoni,
Verywell Health,
22 Oct. 2025
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What fantastic fantasies will lure risk-seeking treasure hunters to breach the massive walls of iron thorns surrounding mysterious radioactive caverns buried deep in the deserts?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Nearby, other agents fire chemical irritants into the ground to keep bystanders away, appearing to cause some people to cough, the video shows.—
Nicquel Terry Ellis,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
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It was formulated free of typical eye irritants, including parabens, formaldehydes, phthalates, mineral oil, and contained less than one percent synthetic fragrance.—
Essence,
Essence,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The thumping Republicans took in this week's elections reflected longer-running anger among constituencies that already leaned Democratic, but the GOP needs to worry that the government shutdown will cause that frustration to spread.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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One person familiar with Tuesday’s heated discussion within the caucus says there appears to be at least eight Democratic votes to reopen the government — even though progressive Democratic senators vented their frustration with the potential deal.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pest. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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