as in tormented
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as in afflicted
to cause persistent suffering to
plagued by a cough for all of last week
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Recent Examples of plagued
Annie Ernaux, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Criminal groups have increasingly launched drone strikes and armed attacks have plagued the race, and last June, politician and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay, 39, was fatally shot at a political rally.
—Raquel Coronell Uribe, NBC news, 1 June 2026
Los Angeles reached the NFC Championship Game last season and lost largely because of special teams mistakes that plagued the team all year.
—Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
An innocent question, but one that has plagued me.
—Kristy Ellmer, CNBC, 31 May 2026
The Saguaro Correctional Center has been plagued by complaints and allegations for years.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 29 May 2026
After nearly 50 years of Iowa and New Hampshire leading the Democratic primary schedule, a 2020 Iowa caucus plagued by voting issues and inaccuracies convinced Democrats to change things up.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 29 May 2026
His first year at Liverpool, plagued by injuries, has gone horribly wrong.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Control Pests and Diseases Apple trees, like all fruit trees, are plagued by a host of pests and diseases.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 25 May 2026
Verb
Throughout the rosary recital in the grotto, I was plagued with worry.
—Annie Ernaux, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Criminal groups have increasingly launched drone strikes and armed attacks have plagued the race, and last June, politician and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay, 39, was fatally shot at a political rally.
—Raquel Coronell Uribe, NBC news, 1 June 2026
Los Angeles reached the NFC Championship Game last season and lost largely because of special teams mistakes that plagued the team all year.
—Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
An innocent question, but one that has plagued me.
—Kristy Ellmer, CNBC, 31 May 2026
The Saguaro Correctional Center has been plagued by complaints and allegations for years.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 29 May 2026
After nearly 50 years of Iowa and New Hampshire leading the Democratic primary schedule, a 2020 Iowa caucus plagued by voting issues and inaccuracies convinced Democrats to change things up.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 29 May 2026
His first year at Liverpool, plagued by injuries, has gone horribly wrong.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Control Pests and Diseases Apple trees, like all fruit trees, are plagued by a host of pests and diseases.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 25 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plagued
Verb
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But all hope is not lost for the mosquito-afflicted.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
27 May 2026
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Their presence has revitalized towns historically afflicted by the woes of the boom-and-bust cycles of the oil and gas industry.—
Ernesto Sagás,
The Conversation,
26 May 2026
Verb
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During and shortly after the Spanish Civil War, Franco’s regime, too, persecuted Esperantists for the language’s association with anti–nationalism and anarchism.—
Katie Thornton,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
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Blanche, who defended the fund at a congressional hearing this week, has said anyone who believes they’ve been persecuted can apply for compensation regardless of political affiliation.—
Eric Tucker,
Fortune,
23 May 2026
Adjective
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Throughout his campaign, Pratt has emphasized issues such as homelessness, public safety, wildfire response and government spending, positioning himself as a political outsider challenging the status quo in Los Angeles and drawing support from frustrated voters dissatisfied with current leadership.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
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But even with all that success, Brown became frustrated with his role on the offense in 2025, which led to rumors and reports of him being traded out of Philadelphia.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
Verb
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You’d get tortured or killed for just expressing yourself.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
27 May 2026
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Tursun, 36, told us that her newborn son — one of triplets — had been killed by the Chinese Communist Party and that she was tortured in internment camps.—
Michael Arkush,
Twin Cities,
26 May 2026
Adjective
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Under federal immigration law, second‑degree bail jumping is classified as an aggravated felony, a designation that generally bars lawful permanent residents from seeking cancellation of removal and most other forms of relief.—
Hanna Park,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
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He was booked into the jail there on suspicion of robbery and aggravated battery, and then in October Lembke was extradited to Idaho and taken into custody at the Ada County Jail.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bay Area content creator Kane Parsons pushes back on conventional storytelling, and his hypnotic approach results in one of 2026’s most exhilarating debuts, a existential head trip that GoPros us into a human subconscious besieged by misshapen memories that trap and hold you hostage.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
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Over the years, we were constantly besieged with inquiries.—
Gillian Telling,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Sealed by consuming a mushroom that sprung from the snowy, barren land (as seen in last week’s episode), Richard’s devilish pact cursed Widow’s Bay for the foreseeable future, binding all those born on it to its grounds — those who try to leave face immediate death beyond its watery borders.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
27 May 2026
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Danhausen cursed the Cavaliers, much to the chagrin of Cleveland sports fan The Miz.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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Projects will be judged on several criteria, including the project’s creativity and the use of tested and accurate AI.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
4 Sep. 2025
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Every batch of ice cream, even those with tested and confirmed recipes, requires a lot of tasting and adjusting.—
Maggie Hiufu Wong,
CNN Money,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plagued.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plagued. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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