as in to afflict
to cause persistent suffering to
plagued by a cough for all of last week
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Julie Sharp, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026
The board’s work has been plagued by a strained relationship with other city departments and council leadership as attempts to formalize board regulations have stalled and disagreements over document access and investigation results have emerged.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
Ryan N. Hansen, STAT, 5 Feb. 2026
That sickness felt like a plague Wednesday as Auburn shot 39 of them on 26 Texas fouls.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for plague
Verb
Parts of the exchange have gone viral among Angelenos, with many expressing confusion and surprise about the suggestion that Culver City is plagued by crime.
—Julie Sharp, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026
The board’s work has been plagued by a strained relationship with other city departments and council leadership as attempts to formalize board regulations have stalled and disagreements over document access and investigation results have emerged.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
Ultimately, TrumpRx is not a serious attempt to fix the systemic issues that plague access to drugs at a price that is fair for all Americans.
—Ryan N. Hansen, STAT, 5 Feb. 2026
That sickness felt like a plague Wednesday as Auburn shot 39 of them on 26 Texas fouls.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for plague
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plague
Verb
-
Loan defaults, foreclosures, and hotel property auctions due to distressed financing show that an array of ailments afflict the region’s lodging market.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Last year the Make-A-Wish Foundation flew Luke, who was afflicted with a rare life-threatening blood disorder in high school, to Denver to meet his hero.—
Taylor Antrim,
Vogue,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
As a small rural settlement is swiftly and ruthlessly stripped bare by the twin plagues of a diphtheria epidemic and spreading wildfires, the film eventually descends into a near-literal hellscape, though even when pandemonium takes over on screen, Van Dusen’s formal control never wavers.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Duffy cast the backlash as a relic of the crack cocaine epidemic, during which smoking was the main route of administration.—
Lev Facher,
STAT,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Branding peaceful protesters as ‘terrorists,’ and Christians that are persecuted every year as ‘Zionist mercenaries,’ is nothing but scapegoating.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The Secret Agent’s primary setting is a house full of misfits and refugees in the northeastern city of Recife, a safe harbor from those persecuted by the country’s military regime, ruled over by the inimitable Dona Sebastiana (Tânia Maria, whose role was written specifically for her).—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
Verb
-
For years he was tortured, and finally released in 1973.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
-
He’s not tortured in any way — the only person that’s holding him back is himself.—
Leigh Nordstrom,
Footwear News,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Among those on the field at Stanford University was quarterback Drake Maye, who was limited all of last week with a shoulder injury and missed Friday's session with an illness.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
But availability remains a persistent question for Porzingis, who has been limited to 17 games this season, due in part to the chronic autonomic nervous system illness POTS, or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Adams administration was besieged with corruption at every level—the Blackness of the perpetrators was of no solace.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Don Lemon also enjoyed a standing ovation and was besieged by people all night to express their gratitude and support after he was arrested and charged for an anti-ICE protest just two days before.—
Rob LeDonne,
Rolling Stone,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Whether that’s using it to prepare garden beds, create new garden beds, or even control weeds and pests, upcycling this household staple can help you out in the garden in more ways than one.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Her boyfriend, Blake Murray, a pest-control technician, brought in most of their income.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plague.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plague. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
