PEST Synonyms: 93 Similar and Opposite Words

pest

noun

ˈpest

Definition of pest

as in plague

a widespread disease resulting in a high rate of death one of the great pests of the 20th century was the influenza epidemic of 1918, which killed millions across the globe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in nuisance

one who is obnoxiously annoying stop being a pest to your sister and go find something else to do

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in headache

something that is a source of irritation a never-ending construction project that continues to be a pest for motorists

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 pest Yet secreted under the layered bark of some pines is a pest whose upcoming flight places Colorado’s highest concentration of real estate and infrastructure values at risk. — Jennifer Oldham, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026 District superintendent Timothy Eagen said the school's pest-control vendor is using an organic treatment solution, noting that New York has strict regulations governing chemical spraying on school grounds. — CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026 According to a March statement from the conservation group Oceans North Kalaallit Nunaat (ONKN), the municipal board voted on the bounty in February and planned to fund it from its pest control budget. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2026 Pillows were kept — and since removed — from room 3506 where the pests were most-recently found. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pest

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pest

Noun

A week ago, a call between the US president and his Russian counterpart seemed to be about an urgent clarification over a possible outbreak of plague in Siberia.

— Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
The mysterious death of a lab worker at a plague research institute in Siberia drew global attention to a region where disease risks run as deep as the permafrost.

— Mary Ilyushina, Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of plague

Noun

In August, the health board designated a $250,000 fund for rat abatement — so far the only public money in Idaho specifically earmarked to combat the nuisance.

— Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 16 Oct. 2026
The tablet takes a good 20 to 30 seconds to boot up from that state, which is a nuisance compared with the instant wake-up from sleep mode.

— Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of nuisance

Noun

The biggest headache for Thune was the Save America Act, a voter ID bill that lacked a strategy to become law in the Senate.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
In Meta’s case, creepy video-recording incidents and privacy-light tampering have caused severe headaches for the company.

— Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of headache

Noun

The Dodgers have been a thorn in the Brewers side, but this season feels a bit different.

— OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Cue an enthralling chase sequence, doubling back through those higgledy-piggledy Portland streetscapes, toward the woods — the impenetrable thickets and thorns of which magically part in her presence.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of thorn

Noun

Nodules can be caused by a variety of factors including scar tissue, lung irritants, inflammatory conditions, current or past infections, or cancer.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
Their wavelike motion helps move around germs, mucus, dust, and other irritants so the body can dispel them via coughing or sneezing.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of irritant

Noun

Demonstrators expressed widespread frustration and anger at the government as gasoline, energy and food prices have spiked in recent months.

— SYLVIE CORBET, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
That's despite voter frustration over high prices and the Iran war, and his own challenge of leading one of narrowest House majorities in modern times.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of frustration

Browse Nearby Words

pessimists

pest

pester

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pest. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of pest

noun

Example Sentences

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