pesky

adjective

pes·​ky ˈpe-skē 

peskier; peskiest

: troublesome, vexatious

pesky issues

Synonyms

• 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

Larsson’s hustle, pesky defense and cutting ability immediately stood out, averaging 10.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game while shooting 44% from the field and 36.8% on threes during his final six regular-season appearances. —Miami Herald, 10 July 2025

The team’s early tests using the Spot robot failed because the high-tech robot couldn’t charge the pesky wildlifethem at fast enough speeds. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 10 July 2025

Cue this bug zapper—it’s made with a 4200-voltage blue-violet light and a plastic surrounding cage to attract and effectively trap pesky critters like mosquitos, gnats, moths, wasps, flies, and more. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 July 2025

But romance is certainly not in the air for residents of Seoul and neighboring Incheon city, who have been plagued by these pesky insects in recent weeks, as rising temperatures due to climate change spur their spread. —Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 4 July 2025

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