1
as in plagues
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 nuisances
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 headaches
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
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Recent Examples of pests
This portable option uses the same isobutane canisters recommended for high-efficiency backpacking stoves to keep a small camp free from pests.
—
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
Step two, if pests still show up, is traps and baits.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 3 June 2026
Many heritage grains and livestock breeds are being preserved because experts worry about overreliance on a narrow set of crops and animals — a fragile setup when weather, pests or disease strike at scale.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026
The company’s approach is based on the sterile insect technique, a scientific method that has been used for decades to control agricultural pests and disease-carrying insects.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 2 June 2026
Scotch bonnets are a temperamental crop; the most recent harvest was devastated by hurricanes in Jamaica — a key producer — as well as disease and pests.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 2 June 2026
Speight recommends growing companion plants that deter pests, such as marigolds, daffodils, or nasturtiums.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 2 June 2026
Researchers learned that exposure to DEET may make the pests more likely to bite a person wearing the go-to repellent, according to the Journal of Experimental Biology.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
Use bagged potting soil instead — it’s formulated to drain properly and won’t introduce pests or disease into your kitchen.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
Step two, if pests still show up, is traps and baits.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 3 June 2026
Many heritage grains and livestock breeds are being preserved because experts worry about overreliance on a narrow set of crops and animals — a fragile setup when weather, pests or disease strike at scale.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026
The company’s approach is based on the sterile insect technique, a scientific method that has been used for decades to control agricultural pests and disease-carrying insects.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 2 June 2026
Scotch bonnets are a temperamental crop; the most recent harvest was devastated by hurricanes in Jamaica — a key producer — as well as disease and pests.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 2 June 2026
Speight recommends growing companion plants that deter pests, such as marigolds, daffodils, or nasturtiums.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 2 June 2026
Researchers learned that exposure to DEET may make the pests more likely to bite a person wearing the go-to repellent, according to the Journal of Experimental Biology.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
Use bagged potting soil instead — it’s formulated to drain properly and won’t introduce pests or disease into your kitchen.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pests
Noun
-
Its buttery texture melts onto the lips, bypassing the drag and pull that plagues drier drugstore pencils.—
Micaela English,
Glamour,
30 Apr. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
For buyers whose lives are otherwise optimized to the point of abstraction, taking on those tangible nuisances can feel almost noble.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2026
-
Japanese beetles and slugs are pesky nuisances that will go after the basil in your garden.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Folks who live close to data centers have reported headaches, vertigo, nausea, sleep disturbances, ear pain and hypertension, the institute website says.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
-
People in the trial reported similar side effects to those from mRNA Covid vaccines — flu-like symptoms including chills and headaches — that only lasted a couple of days.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
The best affordable pet products are ones that solve everyday annoyances—like odor, shedding, scratch damage, messy mealtimes or anxious behaviors.—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
25 May 2026
-
Snap Layouts make multitasking cleaner, virtual desktops help organize projects, and improved search and voice typing tools cut down on little daily annoyances.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Other diamonds have spikier settings resembling thorns.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
-
Thanks to four layers of latex and a 3750D elastic outer fabric, the inner hose is protected from pesky things like thorns and sharp corners.—
Quincy Bulin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
Asked about Valdez, Bis said law enforcement deployed chemical irritants including pepper balls, but not rubber bullets, after agitators attempted to breach the perimeter at Glass House Farms.—
Andrea Castillo,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
-
For decades, scientists assumed the primary purpose of sneezing was simply to expel irritants from the upper airway.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Lahn seized on those frustrations.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
3 June 2026
-
Body language aside, Brown also didn’t share his frustrations publicly, declining to speak with reporters.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Common travel regrets stem from preventable issues like poor planning, budget problems, and choosing the wrong companions.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
The inability to forgive was causing seismic problems in their lives.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pests. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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