as in annoying
causing annoyance
the pesky problem of what to do with all the leftovers
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Recent Examples of pesky
So does the tale of the tape, which clearly favors New York in its first-round matchup against a pesky Hawks team hoping to pull off an upset.
—
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
Or David Eckstein, the pesky leadoff guy.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
Luke Joyce batted 2-for-2 with a two-run double and tossed a 1-2-3 seventh inning for the save, backing Ryan Atkinson’s go-ahead single in the sixth as Braintree edged a pesky Milton, 4-3, in Bay State Conference play.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Pixels • That pesky little tungsten cube has been on quite a journey since Tess boosted it from Duncan’s office.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pesky
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
Or David Eckstein, the pesky leadoff guy.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
Luke Joyce batted 2-for-2 with a two-run double and tossed a 1-2-3 seventh inning for the save, backing Ryan Atkinson’s go-ahead single in the sixth as Braintree edged a pesky Milton, 4-3, in Bay State Conference play.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Pixels • That pesky little tungsten cube has been on quite a journey since Tess boosted it from Duncan’s office.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pesky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pesky
Adjective
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Your husband’s petty desire to be right about everything is understandably annoying and somewhat typical behavior.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
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Dealing with frost on your car may be a nuisance in the winter, but seeds, leaves, and flower petals can be equally as annoying in spring.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Those are frustrating questions to still have about a fifth-year player, but Sorsby could generate some first-round sizzle with a clean 2026 season.—
Nick Baumgardner,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Few things in gardening can be more frustrating than discovering that your favorite plants have been damaged by animals.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In both Dream Scenario and The Drama, Borgli sides with the maligned, framing those who cast judgment as shrewish and needling (exemplified in The Drama with a deliciously irritating performance from Alana Haim).—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Here's where things get a bit irritating.—
Justin Pot,
PC Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pesky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pesky. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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