1
as in plague
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
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2
as in nuisance
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 headache
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pest
One study showed coffee grounds applied to tomato plants as part of a compost mix suppressed common fungal pests.
—
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
In fact, re-potting or not, Liang says regularly checking your plants for pests is a must, especially during colder months when spider mites and gnats are more common.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 16 May 2026
Suspensions One Kansas City food business was suspended due to ineffective pest control measures.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026
For gardeners willing to flip the script, those dandelions aren’t pests at all.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pest
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
In fact, re-potting or not, Liang says regularly checking your plants for pests is a must, especially during colder months when spider mites and gnats are more common.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 16 May 2026
Suspensions One Kansas City food business was suspended due to ineffective pest control measures.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026
For gardeners willing to flip the script, those dandelions aren’t pests at all.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pest
Noun
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Haffkine, little known to the general public, was the Ukrainian-Jewish scientist whose work on cholera and plague vaccines in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries helped save millions of lives.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
-
In 2023, a slew of onstage attacks involving water bottles, cellphones and other projectiles seemed to plague musicians.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The hotel is on a block next to a major road, but the noise is more of a distant city hum than a nuisance.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
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Sargassum has become an increasingly expensive nuisance for coastal communities, and as blooms become larger due to warming water temperatures because of climate change and fertilizer run off providing blooms with endless nutrients, the problem will continue to mushroom.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
Noun
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Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome causes fatigue, fever, muscle aches, abdominal problems, headaches, chills and dizziness in the early stages, and late symptoms include chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath and lungs filling with fluid.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
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And Malia is also achingly lonesome for her family life, with a sister about to get married and a doting father played, in this headache-inducingly twisty psychodrama’s most refreshing meta-twist, by Romanian director Radu Jude.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
18 May 2026
Noun
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Despite that optimism, Landsvik still engages with Maja’s rightful annoyances with the world she is forced to live in.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
19 May 2026
-
For instance, many partners have small gripes or annoyances with habits that are annoying at worst, but far from an outright red flag — like a partner that chews somewhat loudly, leaves cabinet doors open or hums constantly while working.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Noun
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For a thorn-free variety, try 'Soft Caress' Mahonia (Mahonia eurybracteata 'Soft Caress' PP20183).—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
19 May 2026
-
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
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
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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
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Viola’s reaction spotlighted growing frustration among competitors who believe the ruling body is using procedural fixes to avoid addressing biological differences in girls' sports.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
Many of them came from north Denver, where neighbors have expressed frustration about a CoreSite data center there.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pest. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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