as in annoying
causing annoyance
the pesky problem of what to do with all the leftovers
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pesky
This pesky style of hockey requires a roster compiled of open-ice skaters with enough endurance to keep up with the workload.
—
Tyler Small, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
It’s perpetuated by the pesky swarm of AI assistants that want to help read and write for you across apps and platforms.
—Michael Serazio, Time, 28 May 2025
Larsson’s hustle, pesky defense and cutting ability immediately stood out, averaging 10.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game while shooting 44% from the field and 36.8% on threes during his final six regular-season appearances.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025
Elite Dangerous is set over 1,000 years in the future, so humanity has figured out some pesky little physics problems like building megastructures in space, and the potentially impossible issues of faster-than-light travel, too.
—Ian Stokes, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pesky
Tyler Small, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
It’s perpetuated by the pesky swarm of AI assistants that want to help read and write for you across apps and platforms.
—Michael Serazio, Time, 28 May 2025
Larsson’s hustle, pesky defense and cutting ability immediately stood out, averaging 10.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game while shooting 44% from the field and 36.8% on threes during his final six regular-season appearances.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025
Elite Dangerous is set over 1,000 years in the future, so humanity has figured out some pesky little physics problems like building megastructures in space, and the potentially impossible issues of faster-than-light travel, too.
—Ian Stokes, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pesky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pesky
Adjective
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Figuring out how to reply to an annoying co-worker on Slack?—
Rachel Wells,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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In other words, these annoying tasks will actually start to feel good.—
Meg Walters,
Glamour,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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What’s more frustrating is that neither of the bracket’s two best overall performers will be proceeding on to the semifinals, and in hindsight, one of them — Acid Betty — really wasn’t given a chance.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
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The most frustrating character on The Bear continues to be Claire (Molly Gordon), whose on-screen role in Season 3 was limited, but whose importance even as an unseen force has grown and grown.—
Linda Holmes,
NPR,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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If certain emulsifiers are especially gentle on the gut, the food industry could use them to replace the ones that might be more irritating.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
25 June 2025
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But, there are also some unnecessary (potentially irritating) extras—eucalyptus oil, parfum, and benzyl alcohol.—
Boutayna Chokrane,
Wired News,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pesky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pesky. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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