plague

plague — verb

1. to keep giving a person, place, or activity pain, worry, or other trouble for a

1.verbtransitiveC2
Definition

to keep giving a person, place, or activity pain, worry, or other trouble for a long time

Example

For months, sharp knee pain plagued Ken during every bus ride.

problem subject + plague + person

The small factory was plagued by power cuts all summer.

passive: be plagued by something

Common collocations
  • be plagued by doubt
  • be plagued by pain
  • be plagued by delays
  • plague the service
Synonyms
  • trouble

    everyday and broader; can describe short or long problems

  • afflict

    more formal; often used for illness or serious suffering

  • beset

    formal; suggests many problems attacking from several sides

Antonyms
  • relieve

    removes pain, worry, or pressure

  • ease

    makes the trouble less severe

Grammar Patterns

plague somebody/something

be plagued by something

Usage Note

Often used in the passive with by, and the cause is usually pain, illness, delay, doubt, or another continuing problem. Distinguish from sense 2: if someone keeps bothering a person with questions or requests, that pattern usually belongs there.

Common Mistakes

The back pain plagued to her for years.
The back pain plagued her for years.
'plague' takes a direct object, not 'to'.

2. to keep pressing a person for answers, attention, or some action until they feel

2.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to keep pressing a person for answers, attention, or some action until they feel annoyed

Example

The children plagued their uncle with questions about the old war photo.

plague somebody with questions

All morning, reporters plagued the actor for details about the breakup.

plague somebody for details

Common collocations
  • plague somebody with questions
  • plague somebody with calls
  • plague somebody for details
  • plague Mum all week
Synonyms
  • pester

    closest everyday match, especially for repeated requests

  • badger

    stronger; suggests forceful repeated questioning

  • nag

    often used for repeated complaints or reminders in close relationships

  • hassle

    informal and broader; not always about questions

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

plague somebody with something

plague somebody for something

Usage Note

The object is the person being bothered, and the annoying thing often follows with, especially with questions, calls, or requests. Distinguish from sense 1: that sense is about a longer-lasting problem such as pain or delay, often in the passive.

Common Mistakes

The children plagued their mother by questions.
The children plagued their mother with questions.
use 'with' before the repeated questions or requests.

plague — noun

Word family

  • plagued
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Plague is stronger and more historical than epidemic, and it often brings to mind the Black Death or another extremely deadly disease. Epidemic is the neutral public-health word for a disease spreading unusually widely in one region. Pandemic is wider still, used when the spread reaches many countries or continents. Outbreak is the broadest and often the smallest-scale word: an outbreak can begin in one school, hospital, or town. Pestilence is literary or old-fashioned and sounds biblical or historical. Say 'the village feared plague' when you mean the historic deadly disease, 'a flu epidemic' for medical reporting, and 'an outbreak of food poisoning' for a local event.

plague ↗epidemic ↗pandemicoutbreak ↗pestilence

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Plague entered English from Old French plague, which came from Latin plaga, meaning a blow, wound, or strike. In medieval use the word moved from the broader idea of a heavy affliction to the more specific sense of a deadly epidemic disease. That older idea of severe trouble still helps explain modern uses such as being plagued by doubt or a plague of rats.