creosote bush

noun

: a resinous desert shrub (Larrea tridentata) of the caltrop family found in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico

Illustration of creosote bush

Illustration of creosote bush

Examples of creosote bush in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It’s turned rainy and cooler in the past couple of days, but the creosote bushes are blooming yellow. Paige Williams, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026 From above, the light of an intransigent sun falls on the creosote bush, the coyotillo, the cat’s claw. Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026 Scientists like Nabhan believe desert plants, especially the creosote bush, contribute to the post-rain smell. Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 4 July 2025 But within minutes of hiking into the desert, creosote bushes and mesquite pull the sand into disorienting mounds that can, without warning, block the view in every direction. Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 2 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for creosote bush

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of creosote bush was in 1846

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Cite this Entry

“Creosote bush.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creosote%20bush. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

creosote bush

noun
: a desert shrub of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico with small yellow flowers

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