acaricide

noun

acar·​i·​cide ə-ˈker-ə-ˌsīd How to pronounce acaricide (audio)
-ˈka-rə-
Synonyms of acaricidenext
: a pesticide that kills mites and ticks
acaricidal adjective

Examples of acaricide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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This would either be an acaricide — a pesticide that kills ticks and mites, and is found in many pet flea collars and tick medications — or a vaccine that would make the deer more resistant to Lyme disease over time. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 24 Sep. 2025 Repellent can also help, as can treating your yard with acaricides — a type of pesticide focused on ticks and mites. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 6 Oct. 2023 Large-scale habitat control or acaricide (tick-killing) treatment of wildlife, though possible, can be difficult or not cost-effective for homeowners. Joyce Sakamoto, Washington Post, 18 June 2018

Word History

Etymology

acar(us) + -i- + -cide

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of acaricide was in 1841

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Acaricide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acaricide. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.

Medical Definition

acaricide

noun
acar·​i·​cide ə-ˈkar-ə-ˌsīd How to pronounce acaricide (audio)
: a pesticide that kills mites and ticks

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