pesky

adjective

pes·​ky ˈpe-skē How to pronounce pesky (audio)
peskier; peskiest
: troublesome, vexatious
pesky issues

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Costs required town leaders to pare down its dreams of creating vacant land free of those pesky children. Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2025 Each of the 177 Illinois state legislators has his or her own bills to shepherd through the two houses of the legislature, and any bill that does anything has its pesky opponents. Jim Nowlan, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025 And in an era with pesky inflation headaches, California’s varied wage gains – especially, the bigger raises for the bigger paychecks – are one of the forces nudging up economic anxieties statewide. Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 11 June 2025 Studies do show that citronella, geranium, peppermint and other fragrant plants can indeed help deter mosquitoes, but the bottom line is that just having those scents around probably won't stop the pesky insects from biting you. Arkansas Online, 8 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for pesky

Word History

Etymology

probably irregular from pest + -y entry 1

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pesky was in 1775

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pesky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pesky. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

pesky

adjective
pes·​ky ˈpes-kē How to pronounce pesky (audio)
peskier; peskiest
peskily
-kə-lē
adverb
peskiness
-kē-nəs
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on pesky

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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