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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.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

stink bugs

plural

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.

See Examples For:

stink bug

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

OSU Extension has a short publication on the wasp and its effect on the stink bug.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 10, 2022

Nell thinks a bird would be crazy to eat a stink bug.

From The Insect Folk by Margaret Warner Morley

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