A History of Short Words

From the New York Times Crossword Puzzle

PEST

Wed, 17 Jul '24
Bother
Fri, 15 Mar '24
Threat to crops
Wed, 4 Oct '23
Fly in the face, e.g.
Sun, 21 May '23
Irritating sort
Mon, 10 Apr '23
Annoying sort
Tue, 31 Jan '23
Nuisance
Mon, 16 Jan '23
Irritating sort
Wed, 21 Dec '22
Target for an exterminator
Mon, 19 Dec '22
Nuisance
Sat, 13 Aug '22
___ control
Tue, 5 Apr '22
Nuisance
Sat, 26 Mar '22
Headache
Sat, 5 Mar '22
Bother
Wed, 2 Mar '22
Annoyance
Sat, 26 Feb '22
Noodge
Sun, 30 Jan '22
Royal pain
Thu, 27 Jan '22
Dennis the Menace, e.g.
Fri, 26 Nov '21
Small headache
Tue, 19 Oct '21
Persistent little sibling, maybe