pest

noun

\ ˈpest

Definition of pest

1 : an epidemic disease associated with high mortality specifically : plague

2 : something resembling a pest in destructiveness especially : a plant or animal detrimental to humans or human concerns (such as agriculture or livestock production)

3 : one that pesters or annoys : nuisance

Other Words from pest Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about pest

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Examples of pest in a Sentence

These insects are pests for farmers. mice and other household pests You're being a real pest. Would you leave us alone, please?

Recent Examples on the Web Her article looks at the experiments underway to save the country’s grapevines from an invasive pest. — Esther Mobley, San Francisco Chronicle, "White Claw's higher-alcohol Surge means Millennials can stop pretending hard seltzer was ever 'healthy'," 15 Apr. 2021 Most Australian states allow kangaroos to be commercially culled or managed as a pest. — Washington Post, "‘Kangaroos are not shoes’ campaign lands awkwardly in Australia’s Outback," 15 Apr. 2021 Javeri Kadri bought 350 kilos of turmeric and launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the introduction of Baraka cardamom, a domesticated strain of naturally pest-resistant wild cardamom grown in the Kerala rain forest. — Tamar Adler, Vogue, "Diaspora Co.’s Fair-Trade Spices Will Enlighten More Than Your Cooking," 9 Apr. 2021 Asian giant hornets, an invasive pest not native to the U.S., are the world's largest hornet and a predator of honey bees and other insects. — CBS News, "U.S. scientists warn of murder hornets nests this spring: "Serious danger to our health"," 18 Mar. 2021 Asian giant hornets, an invasive pest not native to the U.S., are the world’s largest hornet and a predator of honey bees and other insects. — Fox News, "Scientists in US, Canada gear up for battle against murder hornets," 18 Mar. 2021 The region’s newest pest, a mosquito known as Aedes scapularis, has been flaggedin a study from the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, in which researchers highlighted public health concerns. — Chris Perkins, sun-sentinel.com, "South Florida’s latest unwelcome visitor is an invasive mosquito that has established a foothold in Broward," 17 Mar. 2021 Georgia’s Korean business community has grown to offer everything from real estate and pest control to medical, legal and insurance services. — Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Washington Post, "America was always where she felt she belonged," 20 Apr. 2021 Timely advice on garden chores, fertilizing, pest control, and more from OSU Extension. — oregonlive, "Oregon gardeners, here’s your April to-do list," 7 Apr. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pest.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.