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

Maybe to Looney Tunes fans, but not to hotshot Acme corporate defense lawyer Buddy Crane (John Cena), who plans to brush off the lawsuit like a pesky fly. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026

Per Gurman, sources close to Apple's foldable project claim the iPhone Ultra will solve issues that other rivals struggle with, including screen quality and that pesky crease in the middle of the display. — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026

Though the Liberty controlled the game throughout, the Fever were a pesky mosquito refusing to go away. — Annie Costabile, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Of course, there are several commercial weed control methods, such as chemical herbicides that kill these pesky plants quickly. — Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 22 Aug. 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