hornworm

noun

horn·​worm ˈhȯrn-ˌwərm 

: a hawk moth caterpillar having a hornlike tail process compare tomato hornworm

Examples of hornworm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many species are natural predators that feed on caterpillars, aphids, flies, hornworms, and other insects that can damage vegetable gardens, flowering plants, and ornamental shrubs. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 17 July 2026

Making it through the growing phase, having ducked and dodged blight, hornworms, blossom end rot, and all the other problems a tomato plant might run into can feel like a success of its own. — Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano, The Spruce, 17 July 2026

Dill can also act as a trap crop, luring hornworms away from tomatoes. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 30 June 2026

Scout for common pests like aphids (wash them off with the hose), spider mites, hornworms, and more. — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hornworm

• tobacco hornworm
• tomato hornworm