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
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Recent Examples of pest
Bats eat a lot of insects, providing widespread, free pest control.
—
Leah Campbell, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2026
Installing a barrier of gopher mesh to keep the pests out.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 2026
Common pests include cabbage worms, aphids and flea beetles.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2026
If a wild swarm does move in, please don’t call a pest control company.
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pest
Leah Campbell, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2026
Installing a barrier of gopher mesh to keep the pests out.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 2026
Common pests include cabbage worms, aphids and flea beetles.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2026
If a wild swarm does move in, please don’t call a pest control company.
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pest
Noun
-
Another kind of typhus, carried by lice and caused by the bacteria Rickettsia prowazekii, produced historic plagues that devastated populations during times of war, famine and poverty, the National Institutes for Health said.—
Don Sweeney
April 8,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
-
His church becomes a vital part of Homelander’s plan, just as Homelander’s delusions of divinity soon become everyone’s plague.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Reasons to Grow Moss in Your Garden Some gardeners consider moss a nuisance to be eradicated from their yards.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Two days later, legislators took up the Public Nuisance Reform Act, which proposes narrowing the definition of what could be considered a nuisance.—
Abrahm Lustgarten,
ProPublica,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The war also caused gasoline and diesel prices to surge, causing further headaches for farmers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Lyme disease can bring about flu-like symptoms, headaches, fever and chills.—
Mary Eber,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
To be sure, there can be annoyances.—
Jennifer Ludden,
NPR,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Chronic snoring goes beyond annoyance.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Orbán has long been a thorn in the side of the EU, and has tested the bloc’s system of governance by frequently using his veto power to paralyze decision-making in order to leverage concessions.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
As many see it, a thorn in the EU's side is that major decisions require unanimity among its members.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The victim was not the woman who used the irritant on the man, police said.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
That means every room your kids sleep, play and eat in gets a fresh dose of dust particles and irritants — especially important if anyone in the house has allergies or asthma.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Southern California residents are voicing their frustrations over the cost of tickets for the LA28 Olympic Games, which event organizers have billed as affordable, especially after getting early access last week.—
Laurie Perez,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
For years, summer day camp registration has been a source of frustration.—
Carlos Ramirez-Rosa,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pest. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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