an epidemic disease that causes high mortality; pestilence.

an infectious, epidemic disease caused by a bacterium, Yersinia pestis, characterized by fever, chills, and prostration, transmitted to humans from rats by means of the bites of fleas. Compare bubonic plague , pneumonic plague , septicemic plague .

any widespread affliction, calamity, or evil, esp. one regarded as a direct punishment by God

a plague of war and desolation.

any cause of trouble, annoyance, or vexation

Uninvited guests are a plague.

to trouble, annoy, or torment in any manner

The question of his future plagues him with doubt.

to annoy, bother, or pester

Ants plagued the picnickers.

to smite with a plague, pestilence, death, etc.; scourge

those whom the gods had plagued.

to infect with a plague; cause an epidemic in or among

diseases that still plague the natives of Ethiopia.

to afflict with any evil

He was plagued by allergies all his life.

noun

advantage , good fortune , good luck

verb

aid , assist , help , please

noun

affliction , contagion , curse , epidemic , hydra , infection , infestation , influenza , invasion , outbreak , pandemic , pestilence , rash , ravage , scourge , aggravation , bane , besetment , blast , blight , bother , botheration , calamity , cancer , evil , exasperation , irritant , nuisance , pain , pest , problem , thorn in side , torment , trial , vexation , ill , woe , irritation , peeve , abomination , harassment

verb

afflict , badger , bedevil , beleaguer , bother , chafe , fret , gall , gnaw , harass , harry , hassle , haunt , hector , hound , infest , irk , molest , pain , persecute , pester , pursue , ride , tease , torment , torture , trouble , vex , worry , bait , beset , importune , solicit , agonize , anguish , curse , excruciate , rack , scourge , smite , strike , affliction , annoyance , bane , calamity , contagion , disease , epidemic , infestation , irritate , nag , nuisance , outbreak , pest , pestilence , pox , rash , suffering , tantalize , twit