plague

1 of 2

noun

ˈplāg 

1

a

: a disastrous evil or affliction : calamity

b

: a destructively numerous influx or multiplication of a noxious animal : infestation

a plague of locusts

2

a

: an epidemic disease causing a high rate of mortality : pestilence

b

: a virulent contagious febrile disease that is caused by a bacterium (Yersinia pestis) and that occurs in bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic forms

called also black death

3

a

: a cause of irritation : nuisance

b

: a sudden unwelcome outbreak

a plague of burglaries

plague

2 of 2

verb

plagued; plaguing

transitive verb

1

: to smite, infest, or afflict with or as if with disease, calamity, or natural evil

2

a

: to cause worry or distress to : hamper, burden

b

: to disturb or annoy persistently

plaguer noun

Synonyms

Noun

• pest
• pestilence

Verb

• afflict
• agonize
• anguish
• bedevil
• beset
• besiege
• curse
• excruciate
• harrow
• persecute
• rack
• torment
• torture

Choose the Right Synonym for plague

worry, annoy, harass, harry, plague, pester, tease mean to disturb or irritate by persistent acts.

worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.

pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.

you're doing that just to annoy me

harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.

harassed on all sides by creditors

harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.

the strikers had been harried by thugs

plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.

plagued all her life by poverty

pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.

constantly pestered with trivial complaints

tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.

children teased the dog

Examples of plague in a Sentence

Noun

The country was hit by a plague of natural disasters that year.

There has been a plague of bank robberies in the area.

a plague that swept through the tribe in the 1600s

Verb

Computer viruses plague Internet users.

Crime plagues the inner city.

Drought and wildfires continue to plague the area.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There wasn’t even a plague of locusts or a murder of crows. —Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024

The series follows survivors avoiding the slide into human extinction after a plague sweeps the globe. —Selena Kuznikov, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024

The original play, which debuted at SCR in 1988, was about a woman who fears for the world against the backdrop of the plague of AIDS. —Christopher Smith, Orange County Register, 4 Apr. 2024

Illnesses plague parts of Missouri where World War II–era radioactive waste was processed. —Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 11 Mar. 2024

What caused this particular plague remains somewhat of a mystery. —Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024

But no such luck with what should be considered a different sort of plague, bad leadership. —Barbara Kellerman, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024

The plague is most often transmitted via flea bites or from contact with an infected animal. —Sabienna Bowman, Peoplemag, 12 Feb. 2024

Oregon's First Case of Bubonic Plague in Nearly 10 Years May Have Been Transmitted by a Cat In February, an Oregon resident experienced symptoms of the plague. —Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024

Verb

Photograph: Chris Parkes Ever since the first Asian hornet stole into France in 2004, most likely stowed away on a cargo ship from China, the invasive species has plagued Europe’s beekeepers. —Frankie Adkins, WIRED, 10 Apr. 2024

Pew finds that more trust the Democratic Party to deal with the crisis plaguing the system, which may not be a surprise, considering the party’s close ties to the teachers’ union. —Chloe Berger, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2024

How to manage Hollywood’s biggest slate, and its biggest content spend, has long plagued the streamer. —Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024

The impertinent Squirrel Nutkin, who plagues a taciturn old owl with incessant riddles and rhymes, doesn’t know his place in the natural hierarchy. —Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024

And yet, without spoiling the ending,The People’s Joker does not fall into the trap of cynicism that so plagued Phillips’ Joker. —Abraham Josephine Riesman, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024

The absences of Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter continued to plague Sacramento. —Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 6 Apr. 2024

The project won’t alleviate the urban flash flooding that has increasingly plagued Fort Worth streets. —Luke Ranker, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2024

The impoverished food desert plagued by vacant lots, few job opportunities and gang and gun violence is where the Blackwells, parents to three children, have lived for a decade. —Ashley R. Williams, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English plage, from Late Latin plaga, from Latin, blow; akin to Latin plangere to strike — more at plaint

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing plague

• avoid (someone or something) like the plague
• anti-plague
• bubonic plague

Kids Definition

plague

1 of 2 noun

ˈplāg 

1

a

: a disastrous evil

b

: a large number of destructive pests

a plague of locusts

2

: an epidemic disease causing a high rate of death : pestilence

especially : a serious disease that is caused by a bacterium, occurs or has occurred in several forms including bubonic plague, and is usually passed to human beings from infected rodents and especially rats by the bite of a flea or is passed directly from person to person

3

: a cause or occasion of annoyance : nuisance

plague

2 of 2 verb

plagued; plaguing

1

: to strike or afflict with or as if with disease or evil

2

: to cause worry or distress to

plagued by a sense of guilt

Medical Definition

plague

noun

ˈplāg 

1

: an epidemic disease causing a high rate of mortality : pestilence

a plague of cholera

2

: a virulent contagious febrile disease that is caused by a bacterium of the genus Yersinia (Y. pestis synonym Pasteurella pestis), that occurs in bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic forms, and that is usually transmitted from rats to humans by the bite of infected fleas (as in bubonic plague) or directly from person to person (as in pneumonic plague)

called also black death