stink bug

American

noun

any of numerous broad, flat bugs of the family Pentatomidae, that emit a disagreeable odor.
any of various other malodorous bugs.

Etymology

Origin of stink bug

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I’ve never touched a gun nor smote anything larger than a stink bug.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

The growing wasps use the stink bug eggs for food.

From NewsForKids.net • Apr. 15, 2024

Invasive species in the U.S. like hammerhead worms, spotted lanternflies, murder hornets, and the brown marmorated stink bug, are all from Asia.

From National Geographic • Aug. 4, 2023

Since then, she has studied a number of other destructive invasive insects, including the Asian long-horned beetle, the brown marmorated stink bug and the seemingly ubiquitous spotted lanternfly.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 13, 2022

CRANE: In pecan and almond growing in California the effective control measure for stink bug is the elimination of the host plants on which the stink bug breeds.

From Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the 44th Annual Meeting Rochester, N.Y. August 31 and September 1, 1953 by Northern Nut Growers Association

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023