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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Unfortunately, everything else in this misadventure, from annoying love interests to cloying sidekicks, is a minecart going off the rails.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
20 June 2025
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Each cup is made from a single piece of heavy-gauge stainless steel, so there are no annoying seams for flour or sugar to get stuck in.—
Francesca Krempa,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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The solution proved to be nearly as irritating as the problem.—
Jelani Cobb,
New Yorker,
14 June 2025
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The most prevalent active ingredients in the videos were not only irritating, but are also known to increase sun sensitivity.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
10 June 2025
Adjective
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However, managing their ripeness can be a frustrating endeavor.—
Maryal Miller Carter,
USA Today,
13 June 2025
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This year’s mayoral race has so far been a strange, frustrating exercise.—
Eric Lach,
New Yorker,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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Content moderators are workers who remove disturbing content from social media—data which is often then used to train AI systems like ChatGPT or Facebook’s algorithms.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
19 June 2025
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These stories reveal a disturbing truth: AI can automate and amplify existing biases, leading to real-world injustice.—
Sajal Singh,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pestiferous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pestiferous. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.
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