1
: an epidemic disease associated with high mortality
specifically
: plague
2
: something resembling a pest in destructiveness
especially
: a plant or animal detrimental to humans or human concerns (such as agriculture or livestock production)
Examples of pest in a Sentence
These insects are pests for farmers.
mice and other household pests
You're being a real pest. Would you leave us alone, please?
Recent Examples on the Web
Issues such as interior water or structural damage and pests may indicate the problem is more complicated than a simple replacement, which would be reason enough to walk away.
—
Berit Thorkelson, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2025
Fewer freeze days also encourage blight and pests that attack crops.
—Mark Gongloff, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
University of Maryland Extension’s Home and Garden Information Center offers free gardening and pest information at extension.umd.edu/hgic.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2025
Practice Pest Control Nobody wants mice, insects, cockroaches, and other pests to infest their home.
—Daniel More, Verywell Health, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pest
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Berit Thorkelson, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2025
Fewer freeze days also encourage blight and pests that attack crops.
—Mark Gongloff, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
University of Maryland Extension’s Home and Garden Information Center offers free gardening and pest information at extension.umd.edu/hgic.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2025
Practice Pest Control Nobody wants mice, insects, cockroaches, and other pests to infest their home.
—Daniel More, Verywell Health, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pest
Cite this Entry
“Pest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pest. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pest
noun1
: an epidemic disease which causes a large number of deaths
especially
: plague entry 1 sense 2
2
: something resembling a pest in destructiveness
especially
: a plant or animal harmful to human beings or human concerns (as agriculture)
3
: one that pesters or annoys : nuisance
Medical Definition
pest
noun1
: an epidemic disease associated with high mortality
specifically
: plague sense 2
2
: something resembling a pest in destructiveness
especially
: a plant or animal detrimental to humans or human concerns
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