as in afflicts
to cause persistent suffering to
plagued by a cough for all of last week
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in epidemics
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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Recent Examples of plagues
Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026
Shifting to the execution phase By securing graphite early, the company aims to mitigate supply chain volatility that often plagues advanced nuclear projects.
—Munis Raza, Interesting Engineering, 10 Mar. 2026
Greenblatt suggested that a major misconception of antisemitism that plagues universities is the idea that anti-Zionism is a political stance, rather than one of prejudice.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 10 Mar. 2026
While a fuel crisis plagues the people of Lagos, Nigeria, a young cab driver dreams of a better life.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 2 Mar. 2026
Notably from a distribution standpoint, Double Vision’s sister production services business will assist with everything from music clearances – something that plagues many microdrama makers – and format bibles to localization services and local productions in key markets.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 22 Feb. 2026
The damned disease especially plagues Mexican American men like me, and many aren’t getting screened.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Similarly, programs that encourage regular movement and mental breaks help mitigate the burnout that often plagues high-growth teams.
—Serenity Gibbons, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
So while so much of this matchup is strength versus strength, what might matter most is which team’s weakness plagues them the least.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 28 Mar. 2026
The team treats patients against a backdrop of all-too-common American societal plagues, from substance use disorder to medical bankruptcies and mass shootings.
—Jeffrey Tully, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
Anthrax in early Egypt may have been one of the plagues described in the Bible.
—Hannah Kinzer, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
So does societal action against plagues.
—David Blumenthal, STAT, 24 Mar. 2026
At least 25 are killed as flash flooding plagues Nairobi.
—Evelyne Musambi, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
The Bible states that as a result, God unleashed 10 plagues against Egypt and its people.
—Seth Jacobson, wickedlocal.com, 19 Feb. 2026
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
But the add-on to lock devices separated from their owner’s watch is a major plus point, especially as the smartphone theft pandemic plagues users worldwide.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
Still, a key downside risk for all three companies is the uncertainty that plagues the future of energy markets, according to Goldman.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026
Shifting to the execution phase By securing graphite early, the company aims to mitigate supply chain volatility that often plagues advanced nuclear projects.
—Munis Raza, Interesting Engineering, 10 Mar. 2026
Greenblatt suggested that a major misconception of antisemitism that plagues universities is the idea that anti-Zionism is a political stance, rather than one of prejudice.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 10 Mar. 2026
While a fuel crisis plagues the people of Lagos, Nigeria, a young cab driver dreams of a better life.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 2 Mar. 2026
Notably from a distribution standpoint, Double Vision’s sister production services business will assist with everything from music clearances – something that plagues many microdrama makers – and format bibles to localization services and local productions in key markets.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 22 Feb. 2026
The damned disease especially plagues Mexican American men like me, and many aren’t getting screened.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Similarly, programs that encourage regular movement and mental breaks help mitigate the burnout that often plagues high-growth teams.
—Serenity Gibbons, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
So while so much of this matchup is strength versus strength, what might matter most is which team’s weakness plagues them the least.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
Upon Pharaoh ignoring the command to free the Israelites, 10 plagues were unleashed by God on Egypt and its people.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 28 Mar. 2026
The team treats patients against a backdrop of all-too-common American societal plagues, from substance use disorder to medical bankruptcies and mass shootings.
—Jeffrey Tully, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
Anthrax in early Egypt may have been one of the plagues described in the Bible.
—Hannah Kinzer, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
So does societal action against plagues.
—David Blumenthal, STAT, 24 Mar. 2026
At least 25 are killed as flash flooding plagues Nairobi.
—Evelyne Musambi, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
The Bible states that as a result, God unleashed 10 plagues against Egypt and its people.
—Seth Jacobson, wickedlocal.com, 19 Feb. 2026
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
But the add-on to lock devices separated from their owner’s watch is a major plus point, especially as the smartphone theft pandemic plagues users worldwide.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plagues
Verb
-
The centuries-old pot-kettle idiom points out hypocrisy — as when one person accuses another of a flaw that afflicts himself.—
George Skelton,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The centuries-old pot-kettle idiom points out hypocrisy — as when one person accuses another of a flaw that afflicts himself.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
China, which jails human rights activists in Hong Kong, persecutes Uyghurs, has killed hundreds of thousands of Tibetans and has committed genocide against the Falun Gong, is on the UN Human Rights Council.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
In Russia, the civilian repressive apparatus persecutes the military, which leaps at every chance for revenge.—
Stephen Kotkin,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Over half of the illnesses are in children under 5 years old.—
Kaan Ozcan,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Essayli said the individuals are accused of running fraudulent hospice care facilities that billed Medicare by using people without terminal illnesses as beneficiaries.—
Chelsea Hylton,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The retrospection tortures her.—
Alexandra Rockey Fleming,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Later, in one of the movie's most satisfying scenes, Millie locks Andrew in the attic and tortures him by loudly smashing each plate.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
One of the biggest advantages of greenhouse growing is shielding your plants from pests and disease.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
-
During this time, Orkin focuses on preventive measures to make your home unappetizing for pests.—
Kate Tully Ellsworth,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Unclear if Instagram curses are transferrable.—
Clio Chang,
Curbed,
18 Dec. 2025
-
The driver curses at those outside and inside the car.—
Jason Kravarik,
CNN Money,
13 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plagues.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plagues. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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