pestilent

adjective

pes·​ti·​lent ˈpe-stə-lənt 

1

: destructive of life : deadly

2

: injuring or endangering society : pernicious

3

: causing displeasure or annoyance

4

: infectious, contagious

a pestilent disease

pestilently adverb

Synonyms

• catching
• communicable
• contagious
• transmissible
• transmittable

Examples of pestilent in a Sentence

proper hand washing will help prevent the spread of most pestilent diseases

pestilent reporters hounding him night and day

Recent Examples on the Web

The high densities of brine flies — so dense shorelines can look like they are matted with tar — are an indication of a healthy lake, not a pestilent one. —Daniel Rothberg, Vox, 1 Oct. 2024

But the tropical type of milkweed survives cold winters, and so does its pestilent guest. —Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 15 Jan. 2015

The former was true in the Pelicans' Game 4 as the eagle-wingspan need small forward Jones' and pestilent 6-foot Alvarado's varied physical traits held him to a playoff career-low four points and caused three turnovers. —Dana Scott, The Arizona Republic, 29 Apr. 2022

Island living looks like a privilege when the world is pestilent. —New York Times, 31 Oct. 2020

Herbicides also are available to contend with the pestilent plant. —cleveland, 30 June 2020

At the time, the miasmatic theory of disease—the idea that illness was caused by foul, pestilent odors—had made its way to Boston from England, and undoubtedly influenced the decision to fill in the pond. —Betsy Mason, National Geographic, 13 June 2017

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin pestilent-, pestilens pestilential, from pestis

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pestilent

adjective

pes·​ti·​lent ˈpes-tə-lənt 

1

: dangerous or destructive to life : deadly

a pestilent drug

2

: harmful or dangerous to society : pernicious

3

: causing displeasure or annoyance

a pestilent child

4

: infectious sense 1, contagious

a pestilent disease