pestilential

adjective pes·ti·len·tial \ ˌpe-stə-ˈlen(t)-shəl \

Updated on: 4 Mar 2018

Definition of pestilential

1 a : causing or tending to cause pestilence : deadly

b : of or relating to pestilence

2 : morally harmful : pernicious

3 : giving rise to vexation or annoyance : irritating

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pestilentially

play \ˌpe-stə-ˈlen(t)-sh(ə-)lē\ adverb

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Recent Examples of pestilential from the Web

The classic treatise helped change public opinion of the Everglades from a pestilential swamp to a treasure that not only provides a home to distinctive flora and fauna but serves as the primary water source for the millions of residents of Florida.

— chelsea greenwood lassman, Teen Vogue, "Who Marjory Stoneman Douglas Was," 1 Mar. 2018
The academic writes a proposal for a research center where these ideas can be given a pestilential foothold, a source of viral infection hidden in a legitimate academic setting.

— james freeman, WSJ, "‘Historical Fiction’ at Duke," 19 Oct. 2017
There are other pestilential concerns, among them dengue fever and chikungunya, a virus that swept through the Caribbean a few years ago.

— matthew segal, Los Angeles Magazine, "Buy All the Bug Spray: An Aggressive New Mosquito Is Buzzing Around," 13 Sep. 2017
But unlike other animals tagged as invasive and pestilential — like Burmese pythons, feral hogs, and snakehead fish — mute swans are widely beloved.

— brandon keim, WIRED, "New Yorkers in Uproar Over Planned Mass-Killing of Swans," 6 Feb. 2014

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