plague

noun

(often used with the, sometimes capitalized: the Plague) The bubonic plague, the pestilent disease caused by the virulent bacterium Yersinia pestis.

(pathology) An epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence, but specifically by the above disease.

A widespread affliction, calamity, or destructive influx, especially when seen as divine retribution.

(figurative) A grave nuisance, whatever greatly irritates.

(ornithology) A group of common grackles.

verb

(transitive) To harass, pester or annoy someone persistently or incessantly.

(transitive) To afflict with a disease or other calamity.

Roots

plagaplague- · Latin · blow, wound

Synonyms for plague

pestilencen pestn infestationn blightn besetv epiphytoticadj scourgen murrainn pandemicn epizooticadj afflictv infestv pestholen diseasen

Synonyms & related words for plague

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of plague — including pestilence, pest, infestation, blight, beset, epiphytotic. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to plague

Explore words related to plague — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include bubonic, epidemics, pestilential, epidemically, pox, enzootic, contagion, acariasis. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for plague

Common synonyms for plague include pestilence, pest, infestation, blight, beset, epiphytotic, scourge, murrain — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does plague come from?

The word plague breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root plague-, from Latin plaga (“blow, wound”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.