as in afflicts
to cause persistent suffering to
plagued by a cough for all of last week
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in epidemics
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
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Recent Examples of plagues
Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
This temporary fix does nothing to resolve the chronic underfunding and instability that plagues these programs year after year.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 6 Aug. 2025
And the majority of gun violence that still plagues our communities is committed with firearms trafficked from out of state — often from places with virtually no safeguards.
—Rebecca Fischer, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
Everything that plagues Chicago also plagues America.
—Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
This temporary fix does nothing to resolve the chronic underfunding and instability that plagues these programs year after year.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 6 Aug. 2025
And the majority of gun violence that still plagues our communities is committed with firearms trafficked from out of state — often from places with virtually no safeguards.
—Rebecca Fischer, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plagues
Verb
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Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease caused by a virus that primarily and most severely afflicts children.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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Although there have been recent breakthroughs in the treatment of Alzheimer’s, no medication has succeeded in stopping or reversing the disease that afflicts more than 7 million Americans, a number projected to reach almost 13 million by 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Children suffering from malnutrition can be more susceptible to contracting other illnesses, and children with preexisting conditions can be more vulnerable to becoming malnourished, experts say.—
Pablo Robles,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
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Childhood illnesses had severely weakened her own heart.—
Ruchi Kumar,
NPR,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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While on your daily garden walk, take a moment to pause here and there and let your eyes roam, looking for pests.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Sep. 2025
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Summer pruning helps remove lanky growth and improve airflow to discourage disease and pests.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plagues.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plagues. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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