PLAGUE Synonyms: 107 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'plague' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of plague are annoy , harass , harry , pester , tease , and worry . While all these words mean "to disturb or irritate by persistent acts," plague implies a painful and persistent affliction. // plagued all her life by poverty

Q: In what contexts can 'annoy' take the place of 'plague'?

While in some cases nearly identical to plague , annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks. // you're doing that just to annoy me

Q: When would 'harass' be a good substitute for 'plague'?

The words harass and plague can be used in similar contexts, but harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power. // harassed on all sides by creditors

Q: When is it sensible to use 'harry' instead of 'plague'?

Although the words harry and plague have much in common, harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment. // the strikers had been harried by thugs

Q: When might 'pester' be a better fit than 'plague'?

In some situations, the words pester and plague are roughly equivalent. However, pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks. // constantly pestered with trivial complaints

Q: When can 'tease' be used instead of 'plague'?

The words tease and plague are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath. // children teased the dog

Q: When is 'worry' a more appropriate choice than 'plague'?

While the synonyms worry and plague are close in meaning, worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation. // pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

plague 1 of 2

verb

Definition of plague next

as in to afflict

to cause persistent suffering to plagued by a cough for all of last week

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

plague

2 of 2

noun

ˈplāg

as in epidemic

a widespread disease resulting in a high rate of death the Black Death was a plague that killed about one third of Europe's population in the Middle Ages

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb plague contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of plague are annoy, harass, harry, pester, tease, and worry. While all these words mean "to disturb or irritate by persistent acts," plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.

plagued all her life by poverty

In what contexts can annoy take the place of plague?

While in some cases nearly identical to plague, annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.

you're doing that just to annoy me

When would harass be a good substitute for plague?

The words harass and plague can be used in similar contexts, but harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.

harassed on all sides by creditors

When is it sensible to use harry instead of plague?

Although the words harry and plague have much in common, harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.

the strikers had been harried by thugs

When might pester be a better fit than plague?

In some situations, the words pester and plague are roughly equivalent. However, pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.

constantly pestered with trivial complaints

When can tease be used instead of plague?

The words tease and plague are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.

children teased the dog

When is worry a more appropriate choice than plague?

While the synonyms worry and plague are close in meaning, worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.

pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of plague

Verb

As his physical and mental health rapidly deteriorated, he was plagued by a series of haunting hallucinations and even came close to ending his own life. —

Michaela Zee, Variety, 13 Feb. 2025 At one point, Fergie's mic cut out, and lighting issues plagued parts of the performance. —

Diane J. Cho, People.com, 8 Feb. 2025

Noun

In fact, the latest tally is strikingly similar to the results from four years ago, when the NFL snapped up 71 of the biggest draws during the election/plague year. —

Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Jan. 2025 From Mesopotamian mythologies to Y2K narratives and beyond, people have long been telling tales about the end—floods, comets, plagues, and now nuclear annihilation, rogue A.I., and, yes, more plagues. —

Ian Crouch, The New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for plague

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plague

Verb

In France, one child is afflicted [by violence] every three minutes.

— Marta Balaga, Variety, 11 Feb. 2025
View 1 Images There could be new hope for people afflicted with the skin-discoloring disease, vitiligo.

— Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 9 Feb. 2025