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

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pesty

play \ˈpe-stē\ adjective

See pest defined for English-language learners

See pest defined for kids

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 of pest from the Web

Systemic insecticides do not affect these pests and applying protective insecticides to uninfected plants is not always effective.

— jefferson county cooperative extension, AL.com, "Beetles attacking stressed trees in the landscape (Garden Talk)," 7 Aug. 2017
Giant Hogweed Kreith said the giant hogweed is on the watch list of most unwanted invasive pests that can cause severe skin reactions.

— donna vickroy, Daily Southtown, "Column: Don't let wild parsnip, giant hogweed, poison ivy wreck your summer," 28 July 2017
Researchers realised, soon after the discovery of gene drives half a century ago, that they might be forged into tools for eradicating diseases and pests.

— The Economist, "Gene drivesA promising means of pest control meets some evolutionary truths," 22 July 2017
But decades later, the local winemaker Miguel A. Torres believed that the Penedès region might still host a few survivors of the pest eradication.

— matthew sedacca, The Atlantic, "Resurrecting Ancient Wines That Can Survive Climate Change," 17 July 2017
Other pests and diseases include certain kinds of nematodes, root rot and blight, as well as slugs and snails.

— c. claiborne ray, New York Times, "Why Animals Avoid Munching on Ferns," 17 July 2017
The Kansas City Health Department cited d’Bronx Authentic Deli and Pizzeria, 3904 Bell St., for not having effective pest control measures in place.

— joyce smith, kansascity.com, "Olathe McDonald’s and d’Bronx on 39th are cited for roach infestations," 5 July 2017
The big, white bags can hold about 180 tons of grain, keeping the contents mostly dry and protected from damage by weather or pests.

— tatiana freitas, Bloomberg.com, "Brazil Farmers Bag Up Soy as Glut Leaves No Room at the Bin," 4 July 2017
Keeping the grill grates clean prevents the buildup of bacteria, discourages bugs and pests from trying to check out your grill, and prevents carbon buildup which can eventually alter the performance of your grill.

— timothy dahl, Popular Mechanics, "The Beginner's Guide to Grilling Any Type of Food," 1 July 2017

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.