plague 1 of 2

plague

2 of 2

noun

as in epidemic
a widespread disease resulting in a high rate of death the Black Death was a plague that killed about one third of Europe's population in the Middle Ages

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb plague contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of plague are annoy, harass, harry, pester, tease, and worry. While all these words mean "to disturb or irritate by persistent acts," plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.

plagued all her life by poverty

In what contexts can annoy take the place of plague?

While in some cases nearly identical to plague, annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.

you're doing that just to annoy me

When would harass be a good substitute for plague?

The words harass and plague can be used in similar contexts, but harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.

harassed on all sides by creditors

When is it sensible to use harry instead of plague?

Although the words harry and plague have much in common, harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.

the strikers had been harried by thugs

When might pester be a better fit than plague?

In some situations, the words pester and plague are roughly equivalent. However, pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.

constantly pestered with trivial complaints

When can tease be used instead of plague?

The words tease and plague are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.

children teased the dog

When is worry a more appropriate choice than plague?

While the synonyms worry and plague are close in meaning, worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.

pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

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 plague
Verb
Axelrod’s story reminds us that for nearly a century, Philadelphia’s mass transit has been plagued by poor conditions and unstable funding. Menika Dirkson, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025 The team was plagued with injuries, relying heavily on young players. Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
The dire wolves who roamed the Earth up until the end of the last ice age, may have had the same bone disease that plague cats and dogs today called osteochondrosis. Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2025 The answer was equally basic at first, eliminate costly reconciliations and duplicative ledgers that plague capital markets. Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for plague
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plague
Verb
  • While there is no cure for West Nile virus, health officials said, supportive care in hospitals can help people afflicted with severe neuroinvasive symptoms.
    Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Subsequent names didn't stick either, despite cases of this unusual form of diabetes continuing to surface, especially in areas afflicted with malnutrition.
    Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The era-spanning series covers the AIDS epidemic, showing how the LGBTQ+ community was mistreated.
    Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Poppy cultivation and fentanyl production in Myanmar have surged, contributing to the devastating opioid epidemic in the United States.
    Dan Swift, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In Nazi Germany, transgender people were persecuted, barred from public life.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Blasphemy accusations have been used repeatedly to persecute Christians and other religious minorities in the country.
    Sean Nelson, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Famines, pestilence, crusades, and war.
    Greg Grandin September 23, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025
  • Judith is the recipient of the pestilence, Agnes stays by her side, Dad is M.I.A.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This is the cost of having been tortured in public.
    Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
  • The mistake tortures them, which prompts the couple to try and solve the mystery by producing a fake play in an attempt to get their ex-neighbor Mary (Chloe Cherry) to audition.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that can cause listeriosis, a foodborne illness, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Timely treatment of acute illnesses and consistent management of chronic conditions or special needs are also vital to prevent deterioration and long-term consequences into adulthood.
    Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • If your flower beds were besieged with pests or fungal diseases, the fallen leaf litter and stems from those plants should not be left in the garden.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Ruling an isolated, ruined, and besieged Gaza Strip will not get Hamas closer to this objective—but building up a strong political presence in the West Bank could, and accepting the latest proposal could free Hamas to do this.
    Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Insect pests of camellias include tea scales and aphids, both of which produce a waste product called honeydew that encourages sooty mold on the foliage.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
  • And then defensively, just try to be pests, try to create turnovers, which kind of helps our offense.
    Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 29 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Plague.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plague. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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