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as in infectious
capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another proper hand washing will help prevent the spread of most pestilent diseases

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pestilent New York scored a big win in its comeback over the pestilent Houston Rockets on Monday. Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 8 Feb. 2025 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pestilent
Adjective
  • But nothing compares to the infectious jubilation that occurs during the four-day celebration of Cup Match at the end of July and early August.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2025
  • For example, in 2023, there was an outbreak of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus that led to the death of thousands of cats.
    Jackie (Ott) Jaakola, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Few things are as annoying as a vacuum cleaner that leaves a strip of dust by the baseboards and in the corners.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Ding-dong ditched … well into adulthood—one person rang a neighbor's doorbell repeatedly just to be annoying.
    Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • When carboxyhemoglobin saturation exceeds 50%, it is considered lethal.
    CBS News, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Astronauts on a mission to Mars lasting several years would be exposed to potentially lethal amounts of radiation, Pitts said.
    Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • His provisional cause of death was given as multi-organ failure due to infective endocarditis, a rare infection of the inner lining or valves of the heart.
    Daniel Taylor, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
  • On July 30, Ray updated her fans again, revealing her diagnosis of infective endocarditis, a severe heart infection.
    Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 31 July 2024
Adjective
  • Atopic dermatitis is a chronic condition with genetic and environmental causes, whereas atopic dermatitis stems from an irritating substance that triggers a rash.
    Susan Bard, Verywell Health, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Going Overboard with Outdoor Lighting Light pollution can be just as irritating as that dog down the street who barks like clockwork for 30 minutes every night.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating what led to the deadly incident.
    Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Law enforcement respond to a deadly shooting at a town house complex in Spotsylvania County, Va., on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.
    CBS News, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Candidates who experience slow, frustrating hiring cycles are less likely to accept offers or recommend the company to others.
    Casey Marquette, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Those interest rates matter, because of the frustrating math of inflation.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The machine fed the Southern identity a poisonous diet for three decades.
    Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The editorial didn’t advise how to overcome tribal hatred and instead focused on the poisonous news of today — disruption and disorder in town halls and political vandalism of Tesla cars.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pestilent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pestilent. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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