stink bug
noun
variants
or stinkbug
plural stink bugs or stinkbugs
: any of various hemipterous bugs (family Pentatomidae) that have a flattened, shield-shaped body with a triangular scutellum, emit a disagreeable odor when threatened, disturbed, or crushed, and include agricultural and household pests
The Maryland organic farmer is suffering from an infestation of stink bugs—crop-consuming pests emitting the odor of cilantro mixed with burned rubber and dirty socks.—
Heather Haddon
Heather Haddon… Jay McPherson of nearby Southern Illinois University has recorded fifty kinds of stinkbugs from the Pine Hills; possibly the region now deserves the unenviable title of "Stinkbug Capital of the World."—Robert H. Mohlenbrock
Robert H. MohlenbrockExamples of stink bug in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
What kills stink bugs on contact?
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
The spiders benefit humans by acting as natural pest control, eating mosquitoes, biting flies and invasive stink bugs.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
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Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
The spiders benefit humans by acting as natural pest control, eating mosquitoes, biting flies and invasive stink bugs.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stink bug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stink%20bug. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stinkbug
noun
stink·bug
ˈstiŋk-ˌbəg 
: any of various true bugs that give off a bad smell
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