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pestilence
noun
pes·ti·lence
ˈpe-stə-lən(t)s
1
: a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating
especially
: bubonic plague
2
: something that is destructive or pernicious
I'll pour this pestilence into his ear—William Shakespeare
Examples of pestilence in a Sentence
After years of war and pestilence, few people remained in the city.
the fear that terrorists could unleash a pestilence that would wreak unspeakable havoc
Recent Examples on the Web
Israel has no choice but to go to this area to get rid of the pestilence and hopefully rescue the innocent hostages.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 May 2024
In dramatic lore they are known as famine, pestilence, destruction and death.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024
Email marketing has become an inescapable pestilence, causing anxiety as consumers try to discern which emails are legitimate and which may be phishing attempts.
—Greg Petro, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
My advice has nothing to do with conflict or pestilence.
—Paul Thornton, The Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pestilence
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Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of pestilence was
in the 14th century
Articles Related to pestilence
Dictionary Entries Near pestilence
Cite this Entry
“Pestilence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pestilence. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
pestilence
noun
pes·ti·lence
ˈpes-tə-lən(t)s
: a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that spreads quickly and is often fatal
especially
: bubonic plague
Medical Definition
pestilence
noun
pes·ti·lence
ˈpes-tə-lən(t)s
: a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating
specifically
: bubonic plague
More from Merriam-Webster on pestilence
Nglish: Translation of pestilence for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of pestilence for Arabic Speakers
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