pest

noun

1. a serious (sometimes fatal) infection of rodents caused by Yersinia pestis and accidentally transmitted to humans by the bite of a flea that has bitten an infected animal

Similar word(s): pestilence, plague

Definition categories: state

2. any epidemic disease with a high death rate

Similar word(s): pestilence, plague

Definition categories: state

3. a persistently annoying person

Similar word(s): blighter, cuss, gadfly, pesterer

Definition categories: person, persecutor, tormenter, tormentor

4. any unwanted and destructive insect or other animal that attacks food or crops or livestock etc.

- he sprayed the garden to get rid of pests

- many pests have developed resistance to the common pesticides

Definition categories: animal, beast, brute, creature, fauna