pest

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "pest" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is used to refer to a person or thing that is annoying, troublesome, or destructive. For example, "The neighbor's dog is a real pest, always barking and digging holes in our garden."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

A performer and a pest in equal measure.

The Guardian - Sport

What it isn't is an adorable pet, small child or anything you'd want to cuddle up to without calling pest control first.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The Glasgow Evening Times reports on a two-wheeled sex pest who 'uses a racing bike to travel around the west of Scotland trying to lure children into posing for indecent pictures'.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Their "country" – the area over which they can ride – is also increasingly circumscribed by roads, the growth of commercial shooting estates and landowners who no longer give them access because they can't claim a pest control function.

The Guardian

It makes you look like an oily Euro sex pest.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Even though EU regulations should prevent plants being exported from regions known to have a named pest or pathogen, the accidental import to the UK of sweet chestnut nursery stock recently from an area in France – which was supposedly free of the disease but wasn't – shows the system simply isn't working well enough.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

Besides serving as an early-morning alarm clock, the bird also acts as a pest-control agent, while its body was used throughout antiquity in a plethora of remedies – and still is.

The Guardian - Books

But they are no match for an aerial drone such as the "dehogaflier" operated by Louisiana Hog Control, a pest-extermination firm.

The Economist

He came from the opposite end of the social scale from George Bush: born in hardscrabble Laredo, Texas, he dropped out of Baylor University and made his career as a pest-control specialist before discovering politics.

The Economist

Perhaps Emerson should have put it another way: "If you come up with a uniquely effective pest-control service, investors will flock to support you".Two things set apart all organisations with a good record of innovation.

The Economist

They will be appalled at the hypocrisy of a party that persecutes homosexuals (not to mention Bill Clinton) in the name of family values while covering up for a homosexual sex-pest of its own.It is hard to quantify the overall effect of the latest scandal on November's mid-term elections, in which the Democrats have a good chance of taking back the House.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pest" to describe a person, ensure the context clearly indicates that the person is being annoying or troublesome, not simply disliked.

Common error

Avoid using "pest" when a more specific term like "vermin" or "nuisance" would be more accurate, particularly in technical or scientific writing.

Linguistic Context

The word "pest" functions primarily as a noun, referring to something or someone that causes annoyance, trouble, or destruction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a commonly used word with varied applications. Examples include insects destroying crops or an irritating person.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pest" functions as a noun describing something annoying or destructive. According to Ludwig AI, the word is correct and usable in written English, with many real-world examples readily available. Its usage spans various contexts, from describing troublesome insects in agriculture to irritating individuals in social settings. While generally neutral in register, it carries a slightly negative connotation and is frequently found in News & Media and Science. For alternative phrasing, consider words like "nuisance", "irritant" or "vermin".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nuisance

Replaces "pest" to describe something annoying or inconvenient.

irritant

Focuses on the annoying quality of the "pest".

annoyance

Emphasizes the irritating nature of the "pest".

plague

Suggests a widespread and troublesome problem.

troublemaker

Used when referring to a person who is a "pest".

infestation

Specifically refers to a large number of pests.

menace

Highlights the threatening aspect of the "pest".

vermin

Implies a group of troublesome animals.

problem

A more general term for something causing difficulty.

scourge

Indicates a cause of serious trouble or devastation.

FAQs

How can I use "pest" in a sentence?

You can use "pest" to describe an annoying person, as in, "My little brother is such a pest". It can also refer to destructive creatures or plants, such as, "The aphids are a real pest in the garden".

What can I say instead of "pest"?

You can use alternatives like "nuisance", "irritant", or "vermin" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to call a person a "pest"?

Calling someone a "pest" is generally considered informal and can be impolite. It's best used in casual settings or when the intention is lighthearted.

What's the difference between "pest" and "parasite"?

"Pest" is a broader term for anything annoying or destructive, while "parasite" specifically refers to an organism that lives on or in another organism and benefits by deriving nutrients at the host's expense.