pestiferous

American  

[pe-stif-er-uhs] / pɛˈstɪf ər əs /

adjective

1. spreading or bearing disease, especially deadly epidemic disease; pestilential.

   pestiferous rats.

2. pernicious; evil.

   The wicked duke's pestiferous rule blighted the countryside.

3. Informal. mischievous; troublesome or annoying.

   Those pestiferous boys won't leave my apple tree alone.

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pestiferous British  

/ pɛˈstɪfərəs /

adjective

1. informal troublesome; irritating

2. breeding, carrying, or spreading infectious disease

3. corrupting; pernicious

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Other Word Forms

• pestiferously adverb
• pestiferousness noun

Etymology

Origin of pestiferous

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin pestiferus “pestilential,” equivalent to pesti- (stem of pestis ) + -ferus; pest, -ferous

Example Sentences

Some experts believe other bugs and animals — including those considered pestiferous, like rats — are thriving from secondary impacts of all that H20, like increased vegetation.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 21, 2023

William of Newburgh, a medieval English historian, recorded one account of a town devastated by such a monster, who was accused of filling “every house with disease and death by its pestiferous breath.”

From New York Times • Oct. 30, 2021

Even before we brutally crammed them into pestiferous cages and messed with their DNA, chickens were just awesomely good at producing eggs and healthy meat.

From The Verge • Jul. 24, 2016

They Crawl, They Bite, They Baffle Scientists Don’t be too quick to dismiss the common bedbug as merely a pestiferous six-legged blood-sucker.

From New York Times • Aug. 30, 2010

While the rest of the family tossed and dozed, I secretly made my way to the San Marcos River bank and enjoyed a daily interlude of no school, no pestiferous brothers, and no Mother.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly