Synonyms of plagues

plagues 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of plague

as in afflicts

to cause persistent suffering to

plagued by a cough for all of last week

Synonyms & Similar Words

• afflicts
• persecutes
• tortures
• besieges
• curses
• attacks
• troubles
• torments
• besets
• bedevils
• bothers
• anguishes
• overwhelms
• strikes
• disturbs
• agonizes
• stings
• harrows
• racks
• annoys
• aggravates
• excruciates
• pursues
• hurts
• worries
• oppresses
• distresses
• upsets
• irritates
• exasperates
• assails
• harasses
• vexes
• irks
• stresses
• bugs
• rides
• disquiets
• dogs
• grieves
• hounds
• agitates
• stabs
• pains
• victimizes
• discomforts
• smites
• gripes
• badgers
• harries
• strains
• peeves
• perturbs
• tries
• pesters
• riles
• tyrannizes
• grates
• overpowers
• nettles
• crushes
• molests
• chafes
• galls
• piques
• flusters
• discomposes
• pangs
• gets
• pricks
• puts out
• rasps
• martyrs
• smarts
• wrings
• hagrides

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• aids
• helps
• assists
• abets
• relieves
• releases
• delivers
• contents
• comforts
• soothes
• consoles
• quiets
• reprieves
• solaces
• succors

plagues

2 of 2

noun

plural of plague

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

• epidemics
• illnesses
• pestilences
• pests
• infections
• curses
• sicknesses
• pandemics
• ailments
• maladies
• blights
• infirmities
• contagions
• afflictions
• scourges
• murrains
• affections

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of plagues

Verb

Too often, this means taxpayer dollars are fueling the very gun violence that plagues neighborhoods and communities nationwide. — Kris Brown, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026

Odd moment plagues fourth quarter As the Knicks held on to their fairly sizable lead, a fan ran onto the court, tried to take a selfie with Wembanyama but was quickly apprehended by security. — Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 4 June 2026

No, what plagues the Padres is so much deeper. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2026

Early has been significantly better on the road than at home this year, a problem that plagues the team as a whole. — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026

Alas, Schwarzenegger gave the job to Abel Maldonado, now best remembered for advancing the top-two election system that plagues California. — Joe Mathews, Mercury News, 2 June 2026

That spending staved off a recession at the cost of overheating the economy, contributing to the inflation that still plagues Americans. — Matt Peterson, CNBC, 27 May 2026

That is the perfect representation of the fatigue that plagues my life. — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 23 May 2026

And as a fight over the reauthorization of a key national security surveillance law plagues the lower chamber, moving forward with the DHS funding hasn't appeared to be a top priority. — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026

Noun

The deadliest animal to have ever roamed the earth is not the great white shark, or snakes, or even rats that caused three great plagues in history, decimating the human population at the time. — New Atlas, 26 July 2026

How many malodorously toxic episodes does that make toward the seven plagues in the Old Testament? — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

The good news is prevention of the plagues brought by bugs is possible. — Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 14 July 2026

Many of them, like Tubbs, were refugee Midwesterners, sick of parching droughts and devouring plagues of locusts, the insects descending in buzzing clouds thick enough to blacken the noonday sun. — Literary Hub, 10 July 2026

The nets, for the most part, stay out consistently, says Roos, though they are checked regularly, every few days, which prevents not only the algae problem that plagues farmed fish, but also fishermen, as well. — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2026

But there's evidence that earlier plagues were just as deadly. — ABC News, 17 June 2026

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