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stink bug

American  

noun

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

  2. 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

Wiman advises homeowners to seal all cracks where the stink bug can enter and vacuum up inside infestations.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 10, 2022

Most members of the bug order can eject a disagreeable liquid, though few of them do it so successfully as the stink bug.

From The Insect Folk by Morley, Margaret Warner

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.