as in annoying
causing annoyance
a pestiferous weed that has given gardeners no end of grief
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Recent Examples of pestiferous
Structured as entries in Emily’s field journal, the novel lays out her aims, her curmudgeonly nature and her pestiferous relationship with one Wendell Bambleby — a charismatic fellow researcher and sometime rival who Emily suspects is a fairy himself.
—
Amal El-Mohtar, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2023
Disease relies on a variety of pestiferous vectors for the transmission of infective bacteria.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 31 May 2016
The whole event was lousy with pestiferous Bible-banging.
—Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, 12 Dec. 2017
After the Thirty Years’ War (1618-48), the Dutch were probably eager for reminders of ordinary domestic life, even pestiferous ones, and for images of quiet and tenderness.
—Willard Spiegelman, WSJ, 18 Aug. 2017
Mr. Marín said three factors favored his coffee: the elevation, which is high enough to keep pestiferous coffee borer bugs at bay; the humidity, which stems from passing clouds that provide a steady stream of moisture; and the red soil.
—Gustave Axelson, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2017
Amal El-Mohtar, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2023
Disease relies on a variety of pestiferous vectors for the transmission of infective bacteria.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 31 May 2016
The whole event was lousy with pestiferous Bible-banging.
—Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, 12 Dec. 2017
After the Thirty Years’ War (1618-48), the Dutch were probably eager for reminders of ordinary domestic life, even pestiferous ones, and for images of quiet and tenderness.
—Willard Spiegelman, WSJ, 18 Aug. 2017
Mr. Marín said three factors favored his coffee: the elevation, which is high enough to keep pestiferous coffee borer bugs at bay; the humidity, which stems from passing clouds that provide a steady stream of moisture; and the red soil.
—Gustave Axelson, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pestiferous
Adjective
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Electric staplers may also include bonus features like a refill indicator light, high-volume stapling and jam-free staple pathways for reducing annoying backups.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Aug. 2025
-
The 65-inch Sony Bravia 8 OLED TV has a sleek and minimalist design that really stands out, and its black levels are flawless, resulting in no annoying light bloom at all.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The woman’s walk was rushed and uptight, making that sound even more irritating.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
6 Aug. 2025
-
The call was impersonal, irritating, and to Borchardt, quite lazy.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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But the most frustrating point among them is the argument shared by several critics and a wider collection of the audience that the film doesn’t have a deeper meaning and is ultimately about nothing.—
Richard Newby,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Aug. 2025
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With airport handlers worldwide managing 26 million bags each year, few travel inconveniences are more frustrating than arriving without your luggage.—
Kristine Hansen,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
To my mind, this is the most disturbing part of the retractions saga: the chaos, uncertainty, disrespect, and bullying, devoid of any underlying moral or philosophical reasoning.—
Elizabeth Kaye Cook
August 6,
Literary Hub,
6 Aug. 2025
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Her dad, Taylor finds her art to be disturbing, but nonetheless harmless.—
DeVonne Goode,
Parents,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pestiferous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pestiferous. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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