Thorn in one's side
The crossword clue "Thorn in one's side" is answered by PEST, a 4-letter entry. Used 6 times across 6 distinct years; most recently in 2016; first recorded in 1988. It appears in 5 publications in the xd corpus.
The answer
PEST
4 letters. See every clue for this answer on the PEST answer page.
Used 6 times across 6 distinct years; most recently in 2016; first recorded in 1988. It appears in 5 publications in the xd corpus. Frequency and last-seen figures come from the xd crossword corpus only.
Other answers for this clue
The same clue has also been answered these ways in the xd corpus. Answers inside this collection link to their own answer page.
- IRRITATION (1 uses in xd)
Other clues for PEST
Every other clue in this collection answered by PEST, most used first.
- Nuisance - used 336 times, most recently in 2026
- Pain in the neck - used 99 times, most recently in 2026
- Annoyance - used 96 times, most recently in 2026
- Annoying person - used 93 times, most recently in 2026
- Annoying one - used 59 times, most recently in 2026
- Nudnik - used 48 times, most recently in 2022
- Exterminator's target - used 31 times, most recently in 2026
- Irritant - used 21 times, most recently in 2026
- Bother - used 19 times, most recently in 2024
- Bothersome person - used 19 times, most recently in 2025
- Mosquito or gnat - used 18 times, most recently in 2026
- Noodge - used 15 times, most recently in 2025
- Royal pain - used 14 times, most recently in 2024
- Gnat or rat - used 12 times, most recently in 2025
- Hanger-on - used 11 times, most recently in 2016
- Annoying sort - used 10 times, most recently in 2025
- Irksome person - used 10 times, most recently in 2025
- Annoyer - used 9 times, most recently in 2020
- Aphid, to a gardener - used 9 times, most recently in 2026
- Buttinsky - used 9 times, most recently in 2011
- Irksome insect - used 9 times, most recently in 2026
- Bothersome one - used 8 times, most recently in 2023
- Bothersome sort - used 8 times, most recently in 2025
- Exterminator's quarry - used 8 times, most recently in 2016
- Irksome one - used 8 times, most recently in 2022
- Annoying type - used 7 times, most recently in 2009
- ___ control - used 7 times, most recently in 2025
- Flea or fly - used 7 times, most recently in 2023
- Irksome sort - used 7 times, most recently in 2024
- Plague - used 7 times, most recently in 1998
- Unwelcome greenhouse guest - used 7 times, most recently in 2014
- Dennis, to Mr. Wilson - used 6 times, most recently in 2006
- Gadfly - used 6 times, most recently in 2025
- Gnat, e.g. - used 6 times, most recently in 2026
- Irritating one - used 6 times, most recently in 2026
- Irritating sort - used 6 times, most recently in 2023
- Termite, e.g. - used 6 times, most recently in 2024
Related clues
Clues in this collection of the same answer length that share a word with this clue, or match its answer pattern when no word is shared. Most used first.
- ___ one's time (wait) - BIDE, used 89 times
- On the sheltered side - ALEE, used 77 times
- Lose one's footing - SLIP, used 74 times
- Toot one's own horn - BRAG, used 65 times
- Twiddling one's thumbs - IDLE, used 63 times
- "This one's ___" - ONME, used 59 times
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