Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

pesky

American  
[pes-kee] / ˈpɛs ki /

adjective

Informal.
peskier, peskiest

  1. annoyingly troublesome; pesty.

    bothered by a pesky fly.
    Synonyms:
    pestiferous, bothersome, irksome, vexatious
pesky British  
/ ˈpɛskɪ /

adjective

  1. informal troublesome

    pesky flies
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • peskily adverb
  • peskiness noun

Etymology

Origin of pesky

1765–75; irregular formation from pest ( def. ) + -y 1 ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ensuring that the badger was indeed staying put, Clare went to his bedroom and closed the door, for he doubted he could focus with the pesky badger looking over his shoulder.

From Literature

The Maguro shrimp fishing boat docked in Havana three days later than hoped after battling strong winds, currents and a pesky battery, with two other ships due to follow.

From Barron's

The Maguro shrimp fishing boat docked in Havana three days later than hoped after battling strong winds, currents and a pesky battery during its journey from Mexico.

From Barron's

Sink down to the depths of the ocean in the Caribbean, where scuba divers can explore alongside a Sandals Resort marine biologist to hunt pesky, invasive lionfish.

From Salon

Then there was the pesky problem of Big Ten travel.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.