PLAGUE Synonyms: 107 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

plague 1 of 2

verb

Definition of plague next

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

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

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Recent Examples of plague

Verb

Grassley warned that public trust in the FBI has declined and said the bureau has been plagued by abuse, lack of transparency, and weaponization. —

Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2025 The lack of suitable schools has long plagued the region’s ultrarich transplants. —

Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 30 Jan. 2025

Noun

Not during war or plague, not after assassination or the 9/11 attacks. —

Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025 Save the mysterious realm from a spreading plague, form alliances, and defeat monsters in visceral combat. —

Gabriel Zamora, PCMAG, 22 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for plague

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plague

Verb

In recent years, several of the slender towers on Billionaires’ Row have been afflicted with excessive swaying and creaking, problems that are gleefully treated in the press as morality plays about rising inequality.

— Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
According to the most recent report from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, hunger afflicts 17.6% of Venezuela’s population, a rate that is among the highest in the region.

— Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Feb. 2025