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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pest
Future research could investigate the use of acoustic monitoring to understand how stress affects plant health and could identify potential applications for agricultural pest control.
—
Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 24 July 2025
Similar to mosquitoes in life cycles and habits, females suck blood to feed their eggs, pest control company Terminix says.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 15 July 2025
Other flowering plants, like yarrow and sweet alyssum, reduce pest issues by attracting beneficial insects that feed on veggie pests.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2025
Spruce, while good for snow-heavy regions like the Alps, are ill-suited to Germany's climate and susceptible to pests like bark beetles when weakened by heat.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pest
Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 24 July 2025
Similar to mosquitoes in life cycles and habits, females suck blood to feed their eggs, pest control company Terminix says.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 15 July 2025
Other flowering plants, like yarrow and sweet alyssum, reduce pest issues by attracting beneficial insects that feed on veggie pests.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2025
Spruce, while good for snow-heavy regions like the Alps, are ill-suited to Germany's climate and susceptible to pests like bark beetles when weakened by heat.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pest
Noun
-
Climate change, poverty, the savaged middle class, plagues and the rise of A.I. need to be faced now with far more vigor than when they were first realized back in my youth.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
16 July 2025
-
What’s the difference between bubonic and pneumonic plague?—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
Last month, Los Angeles city officials declared these properties a public nuisance because of their failure to take action to clean up debris.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
-
The cicadas swarming in and around Cincinnati can be a nuisance.—
Chad Murphy,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
Read More: The 9 Most Underrated Healthy Foods Flavorings and additives Natural fruit compounds, artificial colorants, and tannins in wine can cause headaches, GI symptoms, or hives in sensitive people.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Time,
22 July 2025
-
His salary: $760,000. Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Andy Pages have dealt the Padres numerous headaches.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 July 2025
Noun
-
Presidents of both parties complained about judges blocking policies nationwide Nationwide injunctions have been a thorn in the side of presidential administrations of both parties.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
22 July 2025
-
Those critics may or may not prove to be a thorn in O’Brien’s side.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Most concerning: The Royals’ lineup is far past the point of frustration and teetering toward pure annoyance for those at The K. Here is how Saturday’s scenario played out.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 July 2025
-
Don’t think, just play Despite its minor annoyances, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 lives up to the hype and should be a day-one treat for gamers worldwide.—
Matt Gardner,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
While many have been peaceful, with marchers chanting slogans and carrying signs against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, some protesters have clashed with police, leading to hundreds of arrests and the use of chemical irritants to disperse crowds.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 June 2025
-
Most have been peaceful, but some have led to clashes with law enforcement as officers made arrests and used chemical irritants and less-lethal weapons to disperse crowds.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
Noun
-
Other operators have expressed similar frustration, and some members of Congress have signaled support for an overhaul.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
22 July 2025
-
The rise of ghost jobs has been causing real frustration for job seekers.—
Kara Dennison,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pest. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share