pestilent
Carrying deadly contagion
Pestilent describes something deadly, destructive, or harmful—originally referring to diseases that spread and kill, like plague.
The word extends to anything noxious or pernicious: pestilent ideas, a pestilent influence on the court.
It can also mean simply annoying or troublesome, though this lighter sense is less common: those pestilent children next door.
Causing or capable of death
- fatalCausing death or ruin
- mortalSubject to death
- perniciousGradually and subtly harmful
- destructiveCausing severe harm
baneful · terminal · deathly · venomous · killer · ruinous · devastating · malignant
Having foul odor
- putridDecomposed and foul-smelling
- rankPosition in hierarchy
- malodorousHaving a bad smell
- stinkingEmitting foul odor
reeking · noisome · offensive · noxious · repugnant · revolting · loathsome · vile
Causing disease
- infectiousAble to spread disease
- contagiousTransmissible between people
- plagueDeadly epidemic disease
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
pandemic · virulent · bacterial · viral · parasitic · transmissible · communicable · zoonotic
Causing moral decay
- perniciousGradually and subtly harmful
- demoralizingDestroying confidence or hope
- insidiousSubtly destructive over time
- degeneratingProgressively worsening over time
tainting · polluting · contaminating · defiling · debasing · vitiating · corrosive · subversive
Causing mild frustration
- vexatiousCausing annoyance or distress
- bothersomeCausing mild annoyance
- irksomeCausing mild frustration
- troublesomeCausing difficulty or annoyance
maddening · infuriating · aggravating · tiresome · wearisome · plaguing · tormenting · galling
lethal
Causing or capable of death
- fatalCausing death or ruin
- mortalSubject to death
- perniciousGradually and subtly harmful
destructive · baneful · terminal · deathly · venomous · killer · ruinous · devastating · malignant · noxious
fetid
Having foul odor
- putridDecomposed and foul-smelling
- rankPosition in hierarchy
- malodorousHaving a bad smell
stinking · reeking · noisome · offensive · noxious · repugnant · revolting · loathsome · vile · squalid
pathogenic
Causing disease
- infectiousAble to spread disease
- contagiousTransmissible between people
- plagueDeadly epidemic disease
epidemic · pandemic · virulent · bacterial · viral · parasitic · transmissible · communicable · zoonotic · endemic
corrupting
Causing moral decay
- perniciousGradually and subtly harmful
- demoralizingDestroying confidence or hope
- insidiousSubtly destructive over time
degenerating · tainting · polluting · contaminating · defiling · debasing · vitiating · corrosive · subversive · undermining
irritating
Causing mild frustration
- vexatiousCausing annoyance or distress
- bothersomeCausing mild annoyance
- irksomeCausing mild frustration
troublesome · maddening · infuriating · aggravating · tiresome · wearisome · plaguing · tormenting · galling · pesky
- Insect Traitssix-legged, winged, antennae, exoskeleton, segmented
pestilenthealthy
In good physical condition
healthful · wholesome · salubrious · salutary · sanitary
pestilentbeneficial
Producing good results
wholesome · salutary · edifying · uplifting · constructive