pesky
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of pesky
1765–75; irregular formation from pest ( def. ) + -y 1 ( def. )
Explanation
Anything pesky is annoying. Pesky things get on your nerves, like pesky mosquitoes that ruin an outdoor movie or pesky ants that march away with all of your picnic food. Pesky things are irritating, like small children who poke you on the leg for ten minutes while you try to discuss Nietzsche. A pesky fly dive-bombs by your head all afternoon. An itch you can't reach is pesky. The word pesky is an old word from New England, as in “like a pest,” but in a funny accent. Different people find different things pesky, but pesky things are never terrible, just very annoying.
Vocabulary lists containing pesky
"The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Sarah, Plain and Tall
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
The pesky pigeons aren't otherwise easily put off.
From Barron's • Jul. 1, 2026
But you can structure your work-from-home days or your summer Fridays so that you’re getting your work done while also tackling some of those pesky personal tasks like paying bills or getting dinner ready.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 30, 2026
Brown-speckled bananas that are soft to the touch, nauseatingly sweet and bring forth a few pesky fruit flies.
From Salon • Jun. 20, 2026
As in both earlier games in this series, the Thunder treated a Lakers lead like a pesky gnat, swatting it away with a casual flick as if it never existed.
From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2026
"Practically got you by the hind leg, pesky Prince!"
From "The Whipping Boy" by Sid Fleischman
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.
