MEANING
Deadly or destructive to life, especially through disease or a plague-like influence.
Use it for
Describe a plague-like or life-threatening condition.Conveys lethal contamination in a setting without relying on a vague “foul” or “evil” atmosphere.
Words that belong together
- pestilent air
- pestilent fever
- a pestilent influence
- pestilent influence
On the page
A pestilent fever moved from house to house before the village understood its cause.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- pestilent
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Usage notes
Rare and literary; it can describe disease, deadly conditions, or a figuratively harmful influence. Avoid using it as a generic synonym for “evil.”
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