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
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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
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pest
Ryan Gary/The Sunroom Shea notes that over the years, APHIS employees have worked to successfully eradicate or keep at bay pests such as the boll weevil, a beetle that feeds on cotton buds, and New World screwworm, a parasite that burrows into the open wounds of animals.
—
Andrea Hsu, NPR, 30 May 2025
The four-walled hideaway sets up quickly to help campers escape the bloodthirsty swarm of mosquitoes, biting midges and other gnawing pests that can be an inevitable part of an outdoor stay.
—New Atlas, 30 May 2025
When gardens will not receive summer plantings consider soil solarization to bake out pests.
65.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 May 2025
Throughout history the Cacao industry has faced severe pest issues, particularly in terms of plant diseases.
—Steven Savage, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pest
Andrea Hsu, NPR, 30 May 2025
The four-walled hideaway sets up quickly to help campers escape the bloodthirsty swarm of mosquitoes, biting midges and other gnawing pests that can be an inevitable part of an outdoor stay.
—New Atlas, 30 May 2025
When gardens will not receive summer plantings consider soil solarization to bake out pests.
65.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 May 2025
Throughout history the Cacao industry has faced severe pest issues, particularly in terms of plant diseases.
—Steven Savage, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pest
Noun
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The pathogen has fueled three major plague pandemics since the first century AD, and though its deadliest years appear to be behind us, plague hasn’t disappeared.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
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The results revealed that pla depletion decreases the virulence and increases the length of plague infections in mice.—
Sam Walters,
Discover Magazine,
31 May 2025
Noun
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The velocity of misinformation isn’t just a nuisance.—
Brent Gleeson,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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Eating flaxseed might even ease menopausal symptoms, which—among its many other nuisances—can often include GI issues.—
Christina Pérez,
Vogue,
29 May 2025
Noun
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Its stern warnings are scary and uncomfortable--the headaches, indigestion, muscle spasms, body aches, clenched teeth or knots in your chest.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
-
More severe cases of salmonellosis may include a high fever, aches, headaches, lethargy, a rash, blood in the urine or stool, and in some cases may become fatal.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
Noun
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The early part of the season indicated Arizona would indeed be a thorn in the side of the Dodgers and one of the best teams in the NL.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
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The law has been a thorn in the side of the Trump administration’s campaign to ramp up deportations, which the president has cast as an effort to rid the country of criminals despite also targeting immigrants with no prior convictions.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2025
Noun
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In fact, the belief that Trump regards ethics as little more an annoyance might actually prop up the value of his crypto ventures.—
Dan Alexander,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
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Now many of Musk’s governmental annoyances are melting away.—
Matthew Purdy,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
Noun
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Inflammation is your immune system's natural response to irritants, injuries, or infections.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
26 May 2025
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This unfortunate side effect is caused by irritants released from the onion cells when your knife slices through.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
16 May 2025
Noun
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What a Lee presidency might look like Yoon’s martial law decree had been in part fueled by his frustration over a months-long political stalemate, with Lee’s Democratic Party blocking the president from moving forward with many of his campaign promises and policies.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
4 June 2025
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Moments before allegedly opening fire, Zhao vented his frustrations at a supervisor and a co-worker whom Zhao blamed for a collision between his forklift and a bulldozer, prosecutors claim.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pest. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
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