pestilent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pestilent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is harmful, destructive, or causing disease, often in a figurative sense. Example: "The pestilent ideas spread quickly through the community, leading to widespread panic and confusion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

In Robert Greene's deathbed tract, Greenes groats-worth of witte, Marlowe is referred to as a "famous gracer of Tragedians" and is reproved for having said, like Greene himself, "There is no god" and for having studied "pestilent Machiuilian pollicie".

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the interim, we were bused to the women's compound, which, as it turned out, lay some three miles to the north of the men's facility, on the banks of a nameless oozing watercourse that bred mosquitoes and stinging flies in the pestilent millions, so that we were all of us, men and women alike, scratching furiously the entire time we were there.

The New Yorker

This pestilent principle generally seeks for asylum where it may practice its deadliest deeds in some important and vital organ of the body.

The New Yorker

"The Only Way Is Essex" (a play on the show's theme song, Yazz's 1988 dance anthem "The Only Way Is Up") has been reviled in Britain as a pestilent example of depraved New World values and a leading indicator of the apocalypse.

The New York Times - Arts

It could be described as 'a foul and pestilent congregation of vapors.' " Reviewing "Freaky Deaky" in 1988, Christopher Lehmann-Haupt wrote: "One takes his skill at plotting for granted by now," and, "Some day Elmore Leonard's novels are going to be cited in dictionaries of slang".

The New York Times

The gloomy soliloquy that follows, in which Hamlet calls the world a "foul and pestilent congregation of vapors," seems more a youthful pose than an agonized cry.

The New York Times

He wrote that the health department's area of concern was the protection against "communicable, infectious and pestilent diseases".

The New York Times

Greenwich Village was, from the beginning, home to the city's outliers, New Yorkers who for one reason or another escaped or were exiled from the teeming, pestilent, Tory, boss-controlled and buttoned-down tip of Downtown Manhattan to the "Left Bank of America".

The New York Times

That perspective is a departure from the approach nearly 150 years ago, when a report exploring the feasibility of draining the swamp for productive agricultural and development use concluded that the Everglades were "suitable only for the haunt of noxious vermin or the resort of pestilent reptiles".

The New York Times - Travel

Meanwhile, for Emeco, the threat of low-priced look-alike products is not just pestilent but potentially lethal.

The New York Times

Tyrants show the exact opposite of the spirit of fraternity that should govern human interactions, and so, as he puts it in "De officiis," "that pestilent and abominable race should be exterminated from human society".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pestilent", consider the intensity of the harm you wish to convey. It's stronger than 'annoying' but less severe than 'deadly'. Choose it when describing something significantly harmful but not necessarily lethal.

Common error

Avoid using "pestilent" in everyday conversations or informal writing. Its formal tone can sound overly dramatic or pretentious in casual contexts. Opt for simpler words like 'annoying' or 'bothersome' instead.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "pestilent" primarily functions as an attributive adjective, modifying nouns to describe them as harmful, destructive, or disease-causing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English to denote a negative attribute. For instance, "pestilent reptiles" or "pestilent mosquitoes".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adjective "pestilent" is a powerful descriptor used to denote something highly injurious, destructive, or harmful. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status in written English. Primarily found in News & Media and Encyclopedias, its formal tone makes it unsuitable for casual contexts. When considering alternatives, options like "pernicious" or "noxious" can provide similar, yet nuanced, meanings. Remember to consider the intensity you wish to convey, and avoid overuse in everyday conversation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pernicious

Emphasizes the subtly harmful or destructive nature of something, often operating in a gradual or unnoticeable way.

deleterious

Highlights the harmful effects, often in a more formal or scientific context.

noxious

Focuses on the harmful or poisonous quality, particularly regarding health or the environment.

baneful

Suggests a source of harm, ruin, or annoyance, often with a sense of foreboding.

virulent

Implies a rapid and severe harmful effect, often associated with diseases or toxins.

malignant

Indicates a tendency to spread and worsen, often used in medical contexts to describe tumors.

detrimental

Simply indicates a negative impact or effect.

corrupting

Highlights the ability to morally degrade or spoil something.

contagious

Refers to something that spreads rapidly, either literally or figuratively, like an idea or emotion.

injurious

Directly refers to causing injury or harm.

FAQs

How can I use "pestilent" in a sentence?

Use "pestilent" to describe something that is harmful, destructive, or causing disease, often in a figurative sense. For example, "The "pestilent ideas" spread quickly through the community, leading to widespread panic and confusion."

What words are synonyms for "pestilent"?

Synonyms for "pestilent" include "pernicious", "deleterious", and "noxious". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "pestilent" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "pestilent" in formal writing, historical contexts, or when emphasizing the severe harmfulness of something. Avoid using it in casual conversations.

What is the difference between "pestilent" and "annoying"?

"Pestilent" implies a significant degree of harm or destructiveness, while "annoying" simply means causing irritation or mild displeasure. Something that is "pestilent" is far more serious than something that is merely "annoying".