Pestilence

n.	1.	Specifically, the disease known as the plague; hence, any contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating. The pestilence That walketh in darkness. - Ps. xci. 6.
	2.	Fig.: That which is pestilent, noxious, or pernicious to the moral character of great numbers. I'll pour this pestilence into his ear. - Shak. Pestilence weed (Bot.) the butterbur coltsfoot (Petasites vulgaris), so called because formerly considered a remedy for the plague. - Dr. Prior.

Noun	1.	pestilence - any epidemic disease with a high death rate Synonyms: plague
	2.	pestilence - a pernicious evil influence

Black Death, affliction, ambulatory plague, bane, black death, black plague, blight, bubonic plague, bugbear, burden, calamity, cancer, canker, cellulocutaneous plague, crushing burden, curse, death, defervescing plague, destruction, disease, epidemic, epiphytotic, epizootic, evil, glandular plague, grievance, harm, hemorrhagic plague, infliction, larval plague, murrain, nemesis, open wound, pandemia, pandemic, pest, pesthole, plague, plague spot, pneumonic plague, premonitory plague, running sore, scourge, septicemic plague, siderating plague, thorn, torment, tuberculosis, vexation, visitation, white plague, woe