pesky

adjective

pes·​ky ˈpe-skē 

peskier; peskiest

: troublesome, vexatious

pesky issues

Synonyms of pesky

• annoying
• frustrating
• irritating

Examples of pesky in a Sentence

I've been trying to get rid of this pesky cold for weeks.

the pesky problem of what to do with all the leftovers

Recent Examples on the Web

The free agent acquisition guards like a pesky summer mosquito. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026

My jawline was tauter, my cheeks were plumper, those pesky wrinkles and fine lines were softened, and my skin had a vibrant, healthy glow. — Cathy Nelson, InStyle, 24 Oct. 2026

Those pesky censors necessitated certain alterations upon release. — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 21 Oct. 2026

But the peskiest part of security cameras in general is the subscription fees you get roped into just to access the footage. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 20 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably irregular from pest + -y entry 1

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pesky

adjective

pes·​ky ˈpes-kē 

peskier; peskiest

: troublesome sense 2

peskily

-kə-lē

adverb

peskiness

-kē-nəs

noun