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

Never mind the pesky numeral—or, for that matter, the actual order in which the cars arrived. — Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026

He gets dinged for a pesky OWI, loses his job at CBS, and then gets outed by some nark in Oklahoma. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026

But most observers recognize that those channels will be milked for cash, with wide cuts expected as the company seeks to harvest the revenue from carriage fees and redistribute to other priorities, like streaming, and paying down that pesky debt. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

Its triple-wavelength emission that can help speed up skin’s collagen production, reduce the visible signs of aging, and minimize pesky redness with consistent use. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 5 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