pestilence

noun
UK: /ˈpestɪləns/
US: /ˈpestɪləns/

  1. A very serious infectious disease that spreads quickly and kills many people.

    1. The pestilence killed many in a short time.
    2. The village was decimated by a terrible pestilence that left few survivors.

  2. Something evil or annoying that is like a disease because it spreads quickly and has a very harmful effect.

    1. The constant noise was a pestilence to him.
    2. Gossip spread through the office like a pestilence, ruining reputations quickly.

Synonyms

plague epidemic outbreak scourge

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "pestilence" in English means: A very serious infectious disease that spreads quickly and kills many people., Something evil or annoying that is like a disease because it spreads quickly and has a very harmful effect..

The phonetic transcription of "pestilence" is /ˈpestɪləns/ in British English and /ˈpestɪləns/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "pestilence": plague, epidemic, outbreak, scourge.

Example usage of "pestilence": "The pestilence killed many in a short time.". More examples on the page.