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.
See Examples For:
And, as she is assured repeatedly, they are freshwater caves so she doesn’t have to worry about pesky ocean critters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
Chris Pine shows off his surprising fluency in Italian in this film about a pesky tween who convinces an aimless young woman to abduct her.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 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
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 ● Mar. 24, 2026
Brigit gazed around and shooed one of Siobhan's pesky pixies from her bathroom before tiptoeing over to Ella's bedside.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
Specifically, there’s that pesky hinge, an even peskier flexible screen, and the peskiest of all: wires.
From The Verge ● Aug. 11, 2021
The more scientific answer would be “in some ways,” because their lineup will be peskier with Adam Eaton at the top, their speed and contact game stronger for his presence.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 9, 2017
Asked about who presented the peskier test in the two-hour match, two-time U.S.
From Reuters ● Aug. 26, 2014
He got peskier in faceoffs and more physical on the boards — by Kane standards.
From Chicago Tribune ● Apr. 12, 2012
In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder added the Perkins piece in the deal with Boston, thereby making themselves a bit tougher inside and a tad peskier to the Lakers.
From Newsweek ● Mar. 16, 2011
One of the league’s peskiest defenders, Patrick Beverley, tried to mirror him move for move before he eventually was called for a foul.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 30, 2023
It also didn’t help that Sunday was Washington’s second game without one of its peskiest defenders in backup point guard Delon Wright, who could be sidelined up to two months with a hamstring issue.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 30, 2022
Specifically, there’s that pesky hinge, an even peskier flexible screen, and the peskiest of all: wires.
From The Verge ● Aug. 11, 2021
Accuracy off the tee and putting have been his peskiest issues, but he still had the Tour’s 10th-best scoring average at the end of August.
From New York Times ● Sep. 7, 2018
Say," was his next word of greeting, "ain't this the doggondest, peskiest wild man's land you ever shot a glimmer of your eye at?
From The Short Cut by Johnson, Frank Tenney
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.
