Definition of pestiferous
1 : dangerous to society : pernicious
2a : carrying or propagating infection : pestilentialb : infected with a pestilential disease
3 : troublesome, annoying
pestiferously
adverbpestiferousness
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Examples of pestiferous in a Sentence
a pestiferous weed that has given gardeners no end of grief
Recent Examples of pestiferous from the Web
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Mr. Marín said three factors favored his coffee: the elevation, which is high enough to keep pestiferous coffee borer bugs at bay; the humidity, which stems from passing clouds that provide a steady stream of moisture; and the red soil.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pestiferous.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of pestiferous
Middle English, from Latin pestifer pestilential, noxious, from pestis + -fer -ferous
Medical Dictionary
pestiferous
playMedical Definition of pestiferous
1: carrying or propagating infection : pestilential a pestiferous insect
2: infected with a pestilential disease
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