plague 1 of 2

verb

Definition of plaguenext
as in to afflict
to cause persistent suffering to plagued by a cough for all of last week

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

plague

2 of 2

noun

ˈplāg How to pronounce plague (audio)
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

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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
The transmission, beamed back via NASA's Deep Space Network, was sketchy, plagued by ghosts and poor contrast. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 June 2025 This is a key a market for growth but is plagued by the lack of charging infrastructure. —Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Noun
The results revealed that pla depletion decreases the virulence and increases the length of plague infections in mice. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 31 May 2025 Living in Florida is a bit like living in ancient Egypt — except the plagues arrive every year here. —Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for plague
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plague
  1. afflict
  2. epidemic
  3. persecute
  4. pestilence
  5. torture
  6. illness
  7. besiege
  8. pest
Verb
  • Cabbages are afflicted by cabbage webworms, cabbage white moths, cabbage loopers, and other worms.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 June 2025
  • When the antibody was injected into the retinas of mice afflicted with retinitis pigmentosa, the action of PROX1 was blocked, retinal regeneration was restored, and vision returned for a period of over six months.
    — Michael Franco, New Atlas, 11 June 2025
Definition of afflict
Noun
  • In the 80s, amid the growing AIDS epidemic, President Ronald Reagan told reporters that gay men were a threat to the general population.
    — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 6 June 2025
  • The epidemic was particularly brutal because HIV often kills young people in the prime of their lives, Dybul says.
    — Melody Schreiber, NPR, 6 June 2025
Definition of epidemic
Verb
  • In 1968 a Jewish Dutch woman named Selma Vos was persecuted to death along with her husband, Cao Richang, an eminent psychologist who had helped found the Institute of Psychology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
    — Nan Z. Da June 10, Literary Hub, 10 June 2025
  • Abrego Garcia was subject to a 2019 withholding order by a judge forbidding his removal to El Salvador because of concerns he would be persecuted there.
    — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 6 June 2025
Definition of persecute
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
Definition of pestilence
Verb
  • The footage includes a scene in which a Hitler look-alike is tortured.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2025
  • In 2024, Chinese state media reported at least four separate cases of university students allegedly torturing cats.
    — Rebecca Wright, CNN Money, 30 May 2025
Definition of torture
Noun
  • For the past several years, the poet laureate of Colorado has confronted a life-threatening illness after their diagnosis with stage 4 ovarian cancer.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 June 2025
  • No illnesses or allergic reactions have been reported to date.
    — Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025
Definition of illness
Verb
  • Imagine an aircraft carrier group besieged by a thousand drones in the Persian Gulf or Arabian Sea.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2025
  • The deadly fire is a heartbreaking ending to a life besieged by challenges.
    — Sam Gillette, People.com, 4 June 2025
Definition of besiege
Noun
  • Just keep in mind that without regular turning and temperature control, cold compost piles won't generate enough heat to kill off weed seeds, plant pathogens, and pests.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 June 2025
  • Tenants speak on victory Residents came together in March 2024 to fight against the hazardous living conditions, including pests, plumbing problems and lack of air conditioning.
    — Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 5 June 2025
Definition of pest

Browse Nearby Words

plagiarizing
plague
plagued
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Plague.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plague. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on plague

Nglish: Translation of plague for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about plague

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