pest

Meaning

1. A pestilence, i.e. a deadly epidemic, a deadly plague.
2. Any destructive insect that attacks crops or livestock; an agricultural pest.
3. An annoying person, a nuisance.
4. An animal regarded as a nuisance, destructive, or a parasite, vermin.
5. An invasive weed.

Synonyms

plague

pestilence

nuisance

vermin

bother

epidemic

annoyance

cuss

blight

gadfly

blighter

pesterer

trouble

nudnik

insect

torment

disease

evil

dull person

bore

pestis

Black Death

irritant

loss

malady

miasma

moor

murrain

nag

nagger

parasite

plant disease

scourge

thing

tribulation

vandal

virus

whip

epidemic disease

odious person

addiction

troublesome person

destructive insect

injurious insect

insect enemy

verm

affliction

destructive pest

angel of death

annoyer

bad habit

be in the way

blast

bothersome

bubonic plague

burden

cause trouble

contagion

contamination

curse

damage

devil

harm

hoodoo

illness

impose

infestation

injury

jinx

lash

Pronounced as (IPA)

/pɛst/

Etymology

In the 16th century in the sense of "pestilence" and specifically bubonic plague from Middle French peste (“pestilence”) (whence French peste). The other meanings are recorded soon after. Ultimately from Latin pestis.