pestilent Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite exceedingly harmful
    deadly; baneful; pernicious.
  2. adjective satellite likely to spread and cause an epidemic disease
    pestilential; plaguey; pestiferous.
    • a pestilential malignancy in the air"- Jonathan Swift
    • plaguey fevers

WordNet

Pes"ti*lent adjective
Etymology
L. pestilens, -entis, fr. pestis pest: cf. F. pestilent.
Definitions
  1. Pestilential; noxious; pernicious; mischievous. "Corrupt and pestilent." Milton. "What a pestilent knave is this same!" Shak.

Webster 1913