pestilence
noun
pes·ti·lence
ˈpe-stə-lən(t)s 
1
: a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating
especially
: bubonic plague
2
: something that is destructive or pernicious
I'll pour this pestilence into his ear …—
William Shakespeare
William ShakespeareExamples of pestilence in a Sentence
After years of war and pestilence, few people remained in the city.
the fear that terrorists could unleash a pestilence that would wreak unspeakable havoc
Recent Examples on the Web
Parks turned into deserts, great skyscrapers leveled by blows from the tails of the monsters, and the entire population threatened in the panic and pestilence that followed the invasion.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Horses, donkeys, camels, and herds and flocks of other livestock die from the pestilence.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
As an example, the celestial dog was thought to aid the sun in causing the intense heat, drought and pestilence of summer.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Famines, pestilence, crusades, and war.
—Greg Grandin
september 23, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pestilence
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Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Horses, donkeys, camels, and herds and flocks of other livestock die from the pestilence.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
As an example, the celestial dog was thought to aid the sun in causing the intense heat, drought and pestilence of summer.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Famines, pestilence, crusades, and war.
—Greg Grandin
september 23, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pestilence
Cite this Entry
“Pestilence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pestilence. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pestilence
noun
pes·ti·lence
ˈpes-tə-lən(t)s
: a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that spreads quickly and is often fatal
especially
: bubonic plague
Medical Definition
pestilence
noun
pes·ti·lence
ˈpes-tə-lən(t)s
: a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating
specifically
: bubonic plague
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