Pestilent — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈpe-stə-lənt/ pes·ti·lent

Meaning & Definition of Pestilent

Pestilent (adjective)

  1. destructive of life, deadly
  2. injuring or endangering society, pernicious
  3. causing displeasure or annoyance

Pestilent (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another

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

    similar: catching, communicable, contagious, transmissible, transmittable
    related: infectious, infective
    opposite: noncommunicable
    near: noninfectious

  2. causing annoyance

    "pestilent reporters hounding him night and day"

    similar: abrasive, aggravating, annoying, bothersome, carking, chafing, disturbing, exasperating, frustrating, galling, irksome, irritating, maddening, nettlesome, nettling, peeving, pesky, pestiferous, pestilential, pesty, plaguey, rankling, rebarbative, riling, vexatious, vexing
    related: burdensome, discomforting, displeasing, disquieting, distressing, importunate, importune, inconveniencing, angering, enraging, infuriating, brattish, bratty, mischievous, offensive, troublesome, upsetting, distractive, painful, stressful, tiresome, troubling, trying, worrisome, biting, grating, jangling, jarring, spiny, thorny
    near: delightful, pleasing

  3. likely to cause or capable of causing death

    "pestilent diseases such as bubonic plague and smallpox"

    similar: baleful, deadly, deathly, fatal, fell, killer, lethal, mortal, murderous, terminal, vital
    related: baneful, deleterious, destructive, harmful, injurious, noxious, pernicious, truculent, infectious, infective, pestilential, poisonous, sublethal, toxic, virulent, dangerous, grave, grievous, hazardous, jeopardizing, menacing, parlous, perilous, risky, serious, threatening, ugly, unhealthy, unsound, bloody, internecine, sanguinary, sanguine
    opposite: healthful, healthy, nonfatal, nonlethal, wholesome
    near: beneficial, restorative, salubrious, salutary, alleviative, corrective, curative, remedial, tonic, advantageous, useful, nonpoisonous, nontoxic, safe

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Pestilent

The most common words with a similar meaning to Pestilent:

catching, communicable, contagious, transmissible, transmittable, abrasive, aggravating, annoying, bothersome, carking, chafing, disturbing, exasperating, frustrating, galling, irksome, irritating, maddening, nettlesome, nettling, peeving, pesky, pestiferous, pestilential, pesty, plaguey, rankling, rebarbative, riling, vexatious, vexing, baleful, deadly, deathly, fatal, fell, killer, lethal, mortal, murderous

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Pestilent

Words with the opposite meaning of Pestilent:

noncommunicable, healthful, healthy, nonfatal, nonlethal, wholesome

Related Words for Pestilent

infectious, infective, burdensome, discomforting, displeasing, disquieting, distressing, importunate, importune, inconveniencing, angering, enraging, infuriating, brattish, bratty, mischievous, offensive, troublesome, upsetting, distractive, painful, stressful, tiresome, troubling, trying, worrisome, biting, grating, jangling, jarring

Near Antonyms of Pestilent

noninfectious, delightful, pleasing, beneficial, restorative, salubrious, salutary, alleviative, corrective, curative, remedial, tonic, advantageous, useful, nonpoisonous, nontoxic, safe

Word Forms of Pestilent

Derived words: pestilently (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Pestilent

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

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Pestilent

What does "Pestilent" mean?

"Pestilent" means destructive of life, deadly. As an adjective, it is defined as: destructive of life, deadly. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Pestilent"?

Other words for "Pestilent" include catching, communicable, contagious, transmissible, transmittable, abrasive, aggravating and annoying. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Pestilent" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Pestilent"?

There are 104 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Pestilent". Common alternatives include catching, communicable, contagious, transmissible, transmittable, abrasive, aggravating, annoying, bothersome and carking.

What is the opposite of "Pestilent"?

Antonyms of "Pestilent" include noncommunicable, healthful, healthy, nonfatal, nonlethal and wholesome. Near antonyms include noninfectious, delightful, pleasing and beneficial.

How do you use "Pestilent" in a sentence?

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"; "pestilent diseases such as bubonic plague and smallpox".

Is "Pestilent" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Pestilent" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Pestilent"?

"Pestilent" is pronounced /ˈpe-stə-lənt/ and divided into syllables as pes·ti·lent.

What is the origin of the word "Pestilent"?

"Pestilent" comes from Middle English, from Latin pestilent-, pestilens pestilential, from pestis. First known use: 14th century.