PESKY Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

pesky

adjective

ˈpe-skē

Definition of pesky

as in annoying

causing annoyance the pesky problem of what to do with all the leftovers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of pesky The issue touches everything from the Chevrolet Equinox to GMC Acadia to Buick Enclave, and a new service bulletin details how techs should diagnose the issue and when to replace that pesky sensor, which is buried deep in the gearbox. — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 20 Aug. 2026 Bug Bite Thing Suction Tool, $12 Mosquito bites may be a summertime rite of passage, but these pesky insects don’t stop biting after the autumnal equinox. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Aug. 2026 The drop-waist elongates the torso to create the illusion of height, all while concealing pesky lines due to the breathable pleats. — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026 That’s not to say the prospects of those pesky injuries aren’t on the 6-foot-3, 213-pound receiver’s mind. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pesky

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pesky

Adjective

Adults’s Gen-Z characters tend to see their comforts as transient, their identities as mutable, and seriousness as an annoying obligation, all of which the second season pokes at a bit.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
Fluctuating estrogen levels can disrupt the nerves responsible for your sense of scent, leading to this symptom that’s equally bizarre and annoying.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of annoying

Adjective

At this point in the draft, every RB has questions, but volume remains king, and Harvey could be in a frustrating battle for touches all season.

— Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026
Bohm’s Phillies career has been sometimes frustrating, sometimes exciting, sometimes perplexing.

— Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of frustrating

Adjective

His irritating habit of starting each meeting with the ping of a bell reinforces his personality.

— Oline Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
The larger battery gives it the sort of range that makes an EV genuinely useful for long-distance driving, while the interior avoids some of the irritating touchscreen-heavy trends found elsewhere.

— Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of irritating

Browse Nearby Words

pervs

pesky

pessimism

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pesky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pesky. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of pesky

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes