1
as in infectious
capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another
proper hand washing will help prevent the spread of most pestilent diseases
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in annoying
causing annoyance
pestilent reporters hounding him night and day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in lethal
likely to cause or capable of causing death
pestilent diseases such as bubonic plague and smallpox
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pestilent
New York scored a big win in its comeback over the pestilent Houston Rockets on Monday.
—
Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 8 Feb. 2025
The high densities of brine flies — so dense shorelines can look like they are matted with tar — are an indication of a healthy lake, not a pestilent one.
—Daniel Rothberg, Vox, 1 Oct. 2024
But the tropical type of milkweed survives cold winters, and so does its pestilent guest.
—Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 15 Jan. 2015
The former was true in the Pelicans' Game 4 as the eagle-wingspan need small forward Jones' and pestilent 6-foot Alvarado's varied physical traits held him to a playoff career-low four points and caused three turnovers.
—Dana Scott, The Arizona Republic, 29 Apr. 2022
Island living looks like a privilege when the world is pestilent.
—New York Times, 31 Oct. 2020
Herbicides also are available to contend with the pestilent plant.
—cleveland, 30 June 2020
At the time, the miasmatic theory of disease—the idea that illness was caused by foul, pestilent odors—had made its way to Boston from England, and undoubtedly influenced the decision to fill in the pond.
—Betsy Mason, National Geographic, 13 June 2017
At the time, the miasmatic theory of disease—the idea that illness was caused by foul, pestilent odors—had made its way to Boston from England, and undoubtedly influenced the decision to fill in the pond.
—Betsy Mason, National Geographic, 13 June 2017
Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 8 Feb. 2025
The high densities of brine flies — so dense shorelines can look like they are matted with tar — are an indication of a healthy lake, not a pestilent one.
—Daniel Rothberg, Vox, 1 Oct. 2024
But the tropical type of milkweed survives cold winters, and so does its pestilent guest.
—Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 15 Jan. 2015
The former was true in the Pelicans' Game 4 as the eagle-wingspan need small forward Jones' and pestilent 6-foot Alvarado's varied physical traits held him to a playoff career-low four points and caused three turnovers.
—Dana Scott, The Arizona Republic, 29 Apr. 2022
Island living looks like a privilege when the world is pestilent.
—New York Times, 31 Oct. 2020
Herbicides also are available to contend with the pestilent plant.
—cleveland, 30 June 2020
At the time, the miasmatic theory of disease—the idea that illness was caused by foul, pestilent odors—had made its way to Boston from England, and undoubtedly influenced the decision to fill in the pond.
—Betsy Mason, National Geographic, 13 June 2017
At the time, the miasmatic theory of disease—the idea that illness was caused by foul, pestilent odors—had made its way to Boston from England, and undoubtedly influenced the decision to fill in the pond.
—Betsy Mason, National Geographic, 13 June 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pestilent
Adjective
-
Powered by fireworks, genre-hopping hits and his genuinely infectious personality, Malone appears to have set a state record for the largest-grossing single-day event in Idaho history.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
25 June 2025
-
From the thundering beats to the infectious energy of the crowd, every moment served as an in-your-face reminder that music shapes, inspires, and unites.—
Ali Lerman,
Los Angeles Times,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
Figuring out how to reply to an annoying co-worker on Slack?—
Rachel Wells,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
In other words, these annoying tasks will actually start to feel good.—
Meg Walters,
Glamour,
28 June 2025
Adjective
-
Police said less lethal munitions were deployed by federal authorities.—
Jenna Sundel
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
-
The industrial and technological revolutions, also beginning in the 18th century, have made war vastly more destructive and lethal.—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
His provisional cause of death was given as multi-organ failure due to infective endocarditis, a rare infection of the inner lining or valves of the heart.—
Daniel Taylor,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
-
His provisional cause of death was given as multi-organ failure due to infective endocarditis, a rare infection of the inner lining or valves of the heart.—
Daniel Taylor,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
If certain emulsifiers are especially gentle on the gut, the food industry could use them to replace the ones that might be more irritating.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
25 June 2025
-
But, there are also some unnecessary (potentially irritating) extras—eucalyptus oil, parfum, and benzyl alcohol.—
Boutayna Chokrane,
Wired News,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
Texan communities are dealing with the impact of the deadly flash floods along the Guadalupe River, which have killed at least 80 people so far.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
7 July 2025
-
The search for those swept into deadly floods in central Texas continued Sunday as the death toll climbed to 78.—
Annabella Rosciglione,
The Washington Examiner,
6 July 2025
Adjective
-
The Copycat Conundrum: When Local Laws Protect Your Competitors Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of international franchising involves dealing with local copycat operations that exploit legal protections designed for domestic businesses.—
Mohaimina Haque,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
-
The director’s latest feature, Jimmy Jaguar, is another brooding head-scratcher, one that’s equal parts fascinating and frustrating.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
Erin Patterson has been found guilty of murdering three relatives with poisonous mushrooms following a trial that has gripped the world.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
7 July 2025
-
The atmosphere in the Rockies’ clubhouse is not toxic, unlike Chicago’s, which reportedly was poisonous for much of last season.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pestilent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pestilent. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share