pestiferous Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite contaminated with infecting organisms
    dirty.
    • dirty wounds
    • obliged to go into infected rooms"- Jane Austen
  2. adjective satellite likely to spread and cause an epidemic disease
    pestilential; plaguey; pestilent.
    • a pestilential malignancy in the air"- Jonathan Swift
    • plaguey fevers
  3. adjective satellite tending to corrupt or pervert
    corruptive; perversive.
  4. adjective satellite causing irritation or annoyance
    pestering; nettlesome; plaguey; plaguy; galling; teasing; vexing; pesky; bothersome; vexatious; annoying; irritating.
    • tapping an annoying rhythm on his glass with his fork
    • aircraft noise is particularly bothersome near the airport
    • found it galling to have to ask permission
    • an irritating delay
    • nettlesome paperwork
    • a pesky mosquito
    • swarms of pestering gnats
    • a plaguey newfangled safety catch
    • a teasing and persistent thought annoyed him
    • a vexatious child
    • it is vexing to have to admit you are wrong

WordNet

Pes*tif"er*ous adjective
Etymology
L. pestiferus, pestifer; pestis pest + ferre to bear: cf. F. pestifère.
Definitions
  1. Pest-bearing; pestilential; noxious to health; malignant; infectious; contagious; as, pestiferous bodies. "Poor, pestiferous creatures begging alms." Evelyn. "Unwholesome and pestiferous occupations." Burke.
  2. Noxious to peace, to morals, or to society; vicious; hurtful; destructive; as, a pestiferous demagogue.
    Pestiferous reports of men very nobly held. Shak.

Webster 1913