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
Like their fellow fall pest, the brown marmorated stink bug, boxelder bugs like to congregate in large numbers.
—
Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2025
Pam Marrone is co-founder of the Invasive Species Corp. in Davis and an expert in biological pest management.
—Pam Marrone, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Spotted lanternflies are notorious invasive pests that have chewed through much of the eastern United States since 2014.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 24 Sep. 2025
How to Protect Your Luggage From Bed Bugs From delayed flights to lost luggage, travel is already anxiety-inducing enough without adding these pervasive pests to the mix.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pest
Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2025
Pam Marrone is co-founder of the Invasive Species Corp. in Davis and an expert in biological pest management.
—Pam Marrone, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Spotted lanternflies are notorious invasive pests that have chewed through much of the eastern United States since 2014.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 24 Sep. 2025
How to Protect Your Luggage From Bed Bugs From delayed flights to lost luggage, travel is already anxiety-inducing enough without adding these pervasive pests to the mix.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pest
Noun
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What this means is that the vineyard is less susceptible to the pests that plague vines around the world.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
28 Sep. 2025
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Marvel Zombies — Now Streaming on Disney+ After the Avengers are overtaken by a zombie plague, a desperate group of survivors discover the key to bringing an end to the super-powered undead, racing across a dystopian landscape and risking life and limb to save their world.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The students, identified by police as Kyle Anderson and Samuel Patten, both 18, were each charged with burglary in the second degree as a hate crime and criminal nuisance in the second degree, police said.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
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The insects can be a nuisance but won't cause structural damage or harm you.—
Andrea Beck,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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If the thought of budgeting gives you a headache, there's another way to approach managing your money without tracking every expense or obsessing over spreadsheets.—
Andreina Rodriguez,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
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Symptoms of the more serious illness include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis, according to the CDC.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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And with a team that has not been the biggest thorn in their side over the last 15 seasons.—
Jon Machota,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
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Though often a thorn in conservatives’ side, Kennedy nevertheless regularly voted with the court’s right-leaning bloc.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Uber was born out of correcting a daily annoyance, which scaled a $203 billion company.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
28 Sep. 2025
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Denise – scrappy, sarcastic, and clever – at first was hostile towards Steven, but that passionate annoyance later evolved into teasing, affectionate companionship.—
Sarah John,
Vulture,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Lawson said Cal Fire makes N-95 masks available to those fighting fires, which can protect firefighters from particulate matter and certain irritants that cause Valley Fever, a fungal infection, Lawson said.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Clothes worn outside can carry pollen, dust and other irritants.—
Rhonda Conner-Warren,
The Conversation,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Despite the growing frustration surrounding the play, Payton remains steadfast in his belief that the play should not be outlawed.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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New York — An explosion at a New York City apartment building blew off a floor-to-roof chunk of the high-rise – terrifying residents in the Bronx and fueling frustration and outrage as to how this could have happened.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pest. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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