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
In warmer early spring areas, marigolds help deter pests later in the season, and sweet alyssum offers a low-growing, pollinator-friendly option.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2026
How to remove termites from your home safely Unfortunately, there aren’t any easy ways to remove termites manually like there are with some other pests.
—Dan Simms, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Some pests can be wiped off with a clean cotton cloth with a few drops of neem oil on it.
—Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 12 May 2026
Considered a healthy and colorful alternative to kale or spinach (and resistant to most pests), Swiss chard can be enjoyed in various ways.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 May 2026
Luckily these pests can be controlled with a natural spray of spinosad found in Bonide, Fertilome and Southern Ag brands of insecticides usually offered for caterpillar control at independent garden centers.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2026
However, because onions and leeks are naturally repellent to most pests, they can usually be grown together without any issues.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2026
According to the university, the USDA funding supports 4-H, a social and educational youth program; training to help farmers manage pests; and research to ensure the sustainability of Maine’s lobster industry, among other programs.
—Reuters, NBC News, 12 Mar. 2025
Tough, undemanding, and rarely bothered by pests, a cheery patch of daffodils can last for generations.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2025
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2026
How to remove termites from your home safely Unfortunately, there aren’t any easy ways to remove termites manually like there are with some other pests.
—Dan Simms, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Some pests can be wiped off with a clean cotton cloth with a few drops of neem oil on it.
—Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 12 May 2026
Considered a healthy and colorful alternative to kale or spinach (and resistant to most pests), Swiss chard can be enjoyed in various ways.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 May 2026
Luckily these pests can be controlled with a natural spray of spinosad found in Bonide, Fertilome and Southern Ag brands of insecticides usually offered for caterpillar control at independent garden centers.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2026
However, because onions and leeks are naturally repellent to most pests, they can usually be grown together without any issues.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2026
According to the university, the USDA funding supports 4-H, a social and educational youth program; training to help farmers manage pests; and research to ensure the sustainability of Maine’s lobster industry, among other programs.
—Reuters, NBC News, 12 Mar. 2025
Tough, undemanding, and rarely bothered by pests, a cheery patch of daffodils can last for generations.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2025
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
-
Land use regulations were legally justified as preventing nuisances, but in reality, the goal of many municipal leaders was to promote socially and racially homogenous neighborhoods, protect property values and keep property taxes low.—
Michael Schill,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
-
Previous modernization efforts The airport has previously suffered from a host of issues that have proved nuisances for travelers, including green liquid falling from the ceiling and broken escalators.—
Sarah Perkel,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Hantavirus, a rare disease typically caused by exposure to infected rodents’ urine or feces, can cause headaches, fever, gastrointestinal issues and respiratory problems.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
-
Patient groups are jockeying for exemptions from Medicaid work requirements, but the unusually fast implementation timeline for states is causing headaches.—
John Wilkerson,
STAT,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Holes in your favorite shirts or shorts are more than annoyances.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2026
-
Repeated over the course of the year, this constitutes the overall framework of annoyances that is costing Americans big, both in money and time.—
Becca Stanek,
TheWeek,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Removing the thorns may help our favorite novels appeal to a wider audience, but such refinements make art feel as lifeless as Catherine Linton’s corpse at the end of Emerald Fennell’s film.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
-
That’s a whole lot of people — 24 of the 30 in this group alone — and Vought really isn’t helping their case with their hilariously corny promo of Jesus Christ himself passing the torch (or rather the crown of thorns).—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Federal agents also tackled several people and deployed chemical irritants at Roosevelt High School in south Minneapolis.—
Beret Leone,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Now, two and a half months after the start of the war, Sánchez’s frustrations are broadly shared by his peers in Europe.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
-
Trump has increasingly expressed frustrations when addressing rising prices at the gas pump, which pose a major political challenge for the president and Republicans during the 2026 midterm elections.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Here’s one of several places where Footer’s biography runs into problems.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
-
After throwing three innings for Triple-A Sugar Land last week, Imai indicated a difference in major-league scouting reports contributed to his problems.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pests. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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