plagues
plagues — verb
- plaguespresent simple I / you / we / they
- plagueses3rd person singular
- plaguesing-ing form
- plaguesedpast simple
1. to cause repeated serious trouble or suffering for a person, group, or thing, co
to cause repeated serious trouble or suffering for a person, group, or thing, continuing for a long time — for example, a business that cannot escape financial problems, or a community where crime never stops.
The construction project was plagued by delays from the very first week.
passive: be plagued by [problem]
For years, the region has been plagued by drought and food shortages.
A series of technical problems plagued the new software after its launch.
The retired athlete was plagued by knee pain that never fully healed.
Financial worries plagued the family after the factory shut down.
文法句型
be plagued by [problem]
be plagued with [difficulty]
[problem] plague + [someone/something]
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice (be plagued by / be plagued with) to describe ongoing difficulties. The active form places the problem as the subject.
常見錯誤
2. to keep annoying or bothering someone by repeatedly asking for things, making re
to keep annoying or bothering someone by repeatedly asking for things, making requests, or interrupting them — for example, children plaguing their parents for treats, or journalists plaguing a politician with questions.
The reporter plagued the politician with questions about the scandal every day.
plague + [someone] + with + [questions]
Street vendors plagued the tourists, trying to sell them cheap souvenirs.
My little brother plagued me all afternoon to play video games with him.
The celebrity was plagued by paparazzi wherever she went.
Neighbors plagued the landlord with complaints about the broken elevator.
- leave alone
to stop bothering someone
文法句型
plague + [someone] + with + [questions/requests]
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 ('CAUSE TROUBLE'), this sense focuses on deliberate or repeated human annoyance rather than ongoing problems or conditions. The pattern 'plague someone with something' specifies the method of annoyance.
常見錯誤
plagues — noun
- plaguessingular
- plaguesesplural
1. a very serious infectious disease that spreads quickly and often kills large num
a very serious infectious disease that spreads quickly and often kills large numbers of people, especially the bubonic plague that caused millions of deaths in the Middle Ages.
The bubonic plague wiped out nearly a third of Europe's population in the 1300s.
the + bubonic plague (specific disease name)
Modern medicine has made it possible to treat most plagues with antibiotics.
plagues (plural for different types)
Villagers fled their homes to escape the spreading plague.
The plague spread rapidly through the crowded city, killing thousands within weeks.
Scientists warn that new plagues could emerge as global temperatures rise.
- pestilence
archaic or literary term for a deadly epidemic disease
- epidemic
broader term; a disease that spreads rapidly without necessarily being fatal
文法句型
the plague
a plague
plagues (plural for different outbreaks/types)
用法筆記
When referring specifically to the bubonic plague of history, use 'the plague'. The plural 'plagues' refers to different outbreaks or types. As an uncountable noun, 'plague' can mean the disease generally ('a vaccine for plague').
常見錯誤
2. a very large number of harmful or unpleasant animals, insects, or things that ap
a very large number of harmful or unpleasant animals, insects, or things that appear suddenly and cause serious damage or trouble — for example, a plague of locusts destroying crops, or a plague of rats in a city.
The region suffered a plague of locusts that destroyed all the crops.
a plague of [insects/animals]
The city is facing a plague of rats in the old subway tunnels.
A plague of mosquitos kept everyone indoors during the summer evenings.
The neighborhood was hit by a plague of car break-ins over the winter.
Online platforms are struggling with a plague of fake accounts and spam messages.
- infestation
more clinical term for insects or animals in large numbers
- swarm
specific to flying insects moving together
- outbreak
broader term; can be used for diseases, violence, or crime
文法句型
a plague of [harmful things]
用法筆記
This sense always appears in the pattern 'a plague of + [noun]', where the noun names the harmful or unwanted things. The expression can be used literally (for insects, animals) or figuratively (for crime, spam, etc.).
常見錯誤
3. a terrible event that causes great suffering, damage, or loss, often viewed as a
a terrible event that causes great suffering, damage, or loss, often viewed as a form of divine punishment or an unavoidable disaster — for example, the ten plagues of Egypt described in the Bible, or natural disasters seen as plagues upon humanity.
In the Bible, Egypt was struck by ten plagues before the pharaoh freed the slaves.
the ten plagues of Egypt (Biblical reference)
Earthquakes, floods, and other natural plagues have struck the region repeatedly.
The villagers believed the drought was a plague sent to punish their wrongdoing.
War remains one of the worst plagues humanity has ever known.
Historians study how ancient civilizations collapsed under plagues and famines.
- calamity
similar in formality; a terrible event causing great harm
- catastrophe
emphasises the scale of destruction; very common in modern English
- affliction
suggests suffering as a burden placed upon someone
- blessing
a good thing sent or received
文法句型
the plagues of [something]
a plague upon [someone/something]
用法筆記
This sense carries strong religious or fatalistic overtones — it often implies that the disaster is a punishment or an unavoidable fate. Distinguish from sense 2 ('INFESTATION'), which refers to a sudden large number of harmful things, not necessarily a large-scale calamity.
常見錯誤
❌ 'The flood was a plague that damaged many houses.' (acceptable but weak) — Better: 'The flood was a calamity that devastated the whole region.' — For natural disasters, 'catastrophe' or 'calamity' are more natural in modern English; 'plague' in this sense tends to be formal or Biblical.
4. someone or something that is always annoying or causing trouble in small ways, t
someone or something that is always annoying or causing trouble in small ways, though not seriously harmful — for example, a dripping tap that is a plague in the kitchen, or a colleague who keeps interrupting your work.
The new neighbor's loud music is a real plague to everyone in the building.
a real plague to [someone]
My old computer has become a plague — it crashes every time I try to work.
A plague of constant phone calls from telemarketers interrupts our dinner.
Those stray cats have become a neighborhood plague, knocking over trash cans every night.
The slow internet connection is a plague for anyone trying to stream videos.
- delight
something that gives pleasure
文法句型
a plague
a real plague
a bit of a plague
用法筆記
This is an informal, somewhat old-fashioned use. It overlaps in meaning with 'nuisance' but is less common in everyday speech. Often appears with intensifiers like 'real', 'absolute', or 'bit of a'.