plague 1 of 2

plague

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb plague contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of plague are annoy, harass, harry, pester, tease, and worry. While all these words mean "to disturb or irritate by persistent acts," plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.

plagued all her life by poverty

In what contexts can annoy take the place of plague?

While in some cases nearly identical to plague, annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.

you're doing that just to annoy me

When would harass be a good substitute for plague?

The words harass and plague can be used in similar contexts, but harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.

harassed on all sides by creditors

When is it sensible to use harry instead of plague?

Although the words harry and plague have much in common, harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.

the strikers had been harried by thugs

When might pester be a better fit than plague?

In some situations, the words pester and plague are roughly equivalent. However, pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.

constantly pestered with trivial complaints

When can tease be used instead of plague?

The words tease and plague are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.

children teased the dog

When is worry a more appropriate choice than plague?

While the synonyms worry and plague are close in meaning, worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.

pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

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
Verb
Since signing, he has been plagued by back problems, limiting him to only 170 games and robbing him of his power and ability to play any defensive position. Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 Entering the scene, Players Health has asserted itself as a trustworthy alternative in a market plagued by broken promises and unmet expectations. Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Noun
While there is indeed connective tissue between the many forms of hate that plague our society, each has its own contours, and there are moments that demand addressing each one specifically – this is such a moment for antisemitism. Sara Colb, Boston Herald, 16 Apr. 2025 When plague struck again, only 18 ferrets remained. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for plague
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plague
Verb
  • Protectionists presented tariffs as the essential policy to quicken the development of manufactures as well as a remedy to the social ills that afflicted the emerging industrial working class.
    Made by History, Time, 28 Apr. 2025
  • But the malady afflicting much of the Dodgers lineup seems to have infected the third baseman with a particularly virulent strain.
    Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Dissanayake attributes the rise in ego-scrolling to the loneliness epidemic and a collective increase in stress and unhappiness among young adults.
    Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
  • This echoes the findings of the U.S. Surgeon General's 2023 Advisory on Social Connection, which declared loneliness a public health epidemic.
    Nell Derick Debevoise, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In a video posted to his Truth Social platform in December 2023, Trump accused the FBI and DOJ of sending undercover spies to churches to persecute people of faith.
    Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The statement concluded with an expression of solidarity with Christians who are persecuted.
    Chloe Breyer, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In recent years, the censorship and false narratives of woke cancel culture have transformed our great universities into greenhouses for this deadly and virulent pestilence.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Being omnivorous, with a very long and efficient gut, humans coped better than other mammals in the face of pestilence and drought, the better to ensure our survival.
    John Mariani, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The Court's ruling requires DHS to provide basic procedural protections so that persons are not secretly removed to a country where they may be persecuted or tortured.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Michael Sang Correa was charged with torturing five men believed to be opponents of Yahya Jammeh following an unsuccessful plot to remove him from power in 2006.
    Colleen Slevin, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Pet owners should watch for signs of illness and consult a veterinarian with concerns, according to Douglas County health officials.
    Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Modern medicine’s first attempt to cure psychiatric illness through surgery may be traced back to the late 19th century, when Gottlieb Burckhardt, a Swiss psychiatrist, removed tissue from the cerebral cortex in a half-dozen patients.
    Frieda Klotz, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • And while politicians know that there are costs to besieging an independent central bank – financial markets may react negatively or inflation may flare up – short-term control of a powerful policy tool can prove irresistible.
    Ana Carolina Garriga, The Conversation, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The attack prompted many Americans to vent their dislike of the nation’s for-profit health system, and made Mr. Mangione a visible foil for an administration that says radicals are besieging the nation.
    Hurubie Meko, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Rosin produced with outdoor flower is more susceptible to microbial contamination and pest infestation, requiring more pesticide treatments and potentially remediation.
    David Goldburg, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Using other plants to minimize unwanted insects is a natural way for pest control.
    Lauren David, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Plague.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plague. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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