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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 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
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
pestilent
adjective
1
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- infectious
- infective
- communicable
- transmissible
- contagious
- catching
- transmittable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- noninfectious
- noncommunicable
2
as in annoying
causing annoyance pestilent reporters hounding him night and day Synonyms & Similar Words
- annoying
- irritating
- frustrating
- pestilential
- disturbing
- pestiferous
- aggravating
- vexatious
- plaguey
- irksome
- maddening
- exasperating
- nettlesome
- pesky
- nettling
- vexing
- bothersome
- pesty
- abrasive
- carking
- painful
- plaguy
- rebarbative
- chafing
- rankling
- riling
- galling
- distractive
- peeving
- troublesome
- mischievous
- importunate
- displeasing
- troubling
- biting
- infuriating
- disquieting
- stressful
- enraging
- burdensome
- importune
- angering
- discomforting
- tiresome
- distressing
- offensive
- inconveniencing
- upsetting
- bratty
- trying
- spiny
- worrisome
- thorny
- jangling
- brattish
- grating
- jarring
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- delightful
- pleasing
3
as in lethal
likely to cause or capable of causing death pestilent diseases such as bubonic plague and smallpox Synonyms & Similar Words
- lethal
- deadly
- poisonous
- infectious
- fatal
- infective
- harmful
- toxic
- killer
- murderous
- dangerous
- terminal
- fell
- pernicious
- mortal
- deathly
- destructive
- baleful
- injurious
- hazardous
- virulent
- pestilential
- noxious
- deleterious
- baneful
- vital
- perilous
- threatening
- ugly
- serious
- risky
- menacing
- bloody
- truculent
- unhealthy
- sublethal
- sanguinary
- jeopardizing
- grave
- grievous
- parlous
- unsound
- internecine
- sanguine
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- healthful
- healthy
- wholesome
- salubrious
- beneficial
- salutary
- nonfatal
- nonlethal
- remedial
- restorative
- beneficial
- curative
- corrective
- useful
- advantageous
- tonic
- alleviative
- nontoxic
- nonpoisonous
- safe