as in annoying
causing annoyance
the pesky problem of what to do with all the leftovers
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pesky
Trump’s genius marketing instincts—his ability to dominate narratives and news cycles, to speak simply and consistently, pesky facts and nuances be damned—translated even better to politics than business.
—
Matt Craig, Forbes, 6 Feb. 2025
All the same, understanding a Morandi still-life is a pesky illusion that may overtake you, the cure for which is looking again, harder.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
Even in the second decade of the twenty-first century, that pesky, protruding, uncontrollable external organ is still not ready for general public viewing.
—Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2025
Also along for the ride had been my son, Eli, who was—to the girls, anyway—a pesky 12-year-old tagalong.
—Fran Golden, AFAR Media, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pesky
Matt Craig, Forbes, 6 Feb. 2025
All the same, understanding a Morandi still-life is a pesky illusion that may overtake you, the cure for which is looking again, harder.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
Even in the second decade of the twenty-first century, that pesky, protruding, uncontrollable external organ is still not ready for general public viewing.
—Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2025
Also along for the ride had been my son, Eli, who was—to the girls, anyway—a pesky 12-year-old tagalong.
—Fran Golden, AFAR Media, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pesky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pesky
Adjective
-
The second week My usual redness around my cheeks had started to fade, and the annoying pimple that had been brewing on my cheek seemed to back off without its usual dramatic entrance.—
Larry Stansbury,
Essence,
7 Mar. 2025
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But unexpected allies and converts to the team’s cause appear, too: passengers awaiting a flight to Kabul, an American technology reporter, maybe even that annoying bakery owner.—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Joe Biden’s administration in 2023 proposed a reworked version of Obama’s rule, but the Biden administration never finalized the rule, frustrating advocates.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN,
11 Mar. 2025
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Very few severe crashes in Sacramento are followed by an arrest, and several survivors of crashes have previously said that soft or nonexistent charges were frustrating and demeaning.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacramento Bee,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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There is nothing more irritating to enthusiasts than when the mainstream tries to portray their niche world and gets it wrong.—
Matt Shaw,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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Most formulas are either too heavy, too drying, or too irritating.—
Tira Urquhart,
Essence,
25 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pesky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pesky. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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