1
as in plague
a widespread disease resulting in a high rate of death
one of the great pests of the 20th century was the influenza epidemic of 1918, which killed millions across the globe
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in nuisance
one who is obnoxiously annoying
stop being a pest to your sister and go find something else to do
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in headache
something that is a source of irritation
a never-ending construction project that continues to be a pest for motorists
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pest
In addition to the beautiful colors, the blooms contain an essential oil compound, geraniol, which creates a pleasant fragrance for us, but not the pests.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 May 2026
Learn about the best onion companion plants for natural pest control and other perks.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2026
These alternatives can target pests, but might not be strong enough to manage an infestation.
—Jessie Quinn, USA Today, 10 May 2026
For gardeners willing to flip the script, those dandelions aren’t pests at all.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pest
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 May 2026
Learn about the best onion companion plants for natural pest control and other perks.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2026
These alternatives can target pests, but might not be strong enough to manage an infestation.
—Jessie Quinn, USA Today, 10 May 2026
For gardeners willing to flip the script, those dandelions aren’t pests at all.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pest
Noun
-
Haffkine, little known to the general public, was the Ukrainian-Jewish scientist whose work on cholera and plague vaccines in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries helped save millions of lives.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
-
In 2023, a slew of onstage attacks involving water bottles, cellphones and other projectiles seemed to plague musicians.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The hotel is on a block next to a major road, but the noise is more of a distant city hum than a nuisance.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
-
Sargassum has become an increasingly expensive nuisance for coastal communities, and as blooms become larger due to warming water temperatures because of climate change and fertilizer run off providing blooms with endless nutrients, the problem will continue to mushroom.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
The headache for employers could be to the benefit of workers, as Huang has previously suggested trades people could soon command six-figure salaries, even early in their career.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
-
Listeriosis can cause symptoms of fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Some attendees, caught between shock and annoyance, make comments and ask questions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
-
Holes in your favorite shirts or shorts are more than annoyances.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Kris says of the fascinator — is actually a crown of sticks and thorns that would fit in beautifully in an episode of Yellowjackets.—
Jen Chaney,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
-
Wear protective clothing and leather gloves, as thorns found along the stems hurt.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
For decades, scientists assumed the primary purpose of sneezing was simply to expel irritants from the upper airway.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Federal agents also tackled several people and deployed chemical irritants at Roosevelt High School in south Minneapolis.—
Beret Leone,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Now, two and a half months after the start of the war, Sánchez’s frustrations are broadly shared by his peers in Europe.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
-
In both competitive partisan races and in Democrat-on-Democrat contests, analysts say frustration about the economy is bubbling up from voters.—
Justine McDaniel,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pest. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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