insecticide

noun

in·sec·ti·cide | \ in-ˈsek-tə-ˌsīd

plural insecticides

Definition of insecticide

: an agent that destroys one or more species of insects broadly : an agent that destroys insects as well as other small pests (such as mites or nematodes) Aphids, mealybugs, and cyclamen mites are all common problems and can be controlled with any low-toxicity insecticide sold specifically for houseplants. — Horticulture

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Examples of insecticide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Kris LaMar, OSU Extension Master Gardener Can I get rid of yellow jackets without insecticide? — oregonlive, "Can I plant some dwarf trees on a retaining wall? Ask an expert," 31 Aug. 2019 The effort saw major successes until insecticide resistance emerged. — Martin Enserink, Science | AAAS, "Is setting a deadline for eradicating malaria a good idea? Scientists are divided," 27 Aug. 2019 The Post’s Krakow reports that health department workers have been coating the prairie dog burrows with powdered insecticide. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Plague-Infected Prairie Dogs Cause Parks to Close Near Denver," 21 Aug. 2019 Fleming has converted an insecticide spraying unit into a small water tanker in the bed of a pickup. — David Kelly, Los Angeles Times, "After a wildfire, a Colorado town’s residents reluctantly sue a historic railway," 7 Aug. 2019 The Tri-County Health Department said Thursday that prairie dog burrows in Commerce City are being sprayed with insecticide to kill fleas that could transmit the disease to the rodents, people and pets. — courant.com, "Prairie dog plague outbreak cancels fireworks show after Colorado Rapids game," 2 Aug. 2019 The Tri-County Health Department said Thursday that prairie dog burrows in Commerce City are being sprayed with insecticide to kill fleas that could transmit the disease to the rodents, people and pets. — BostonGlobe.com, "Messi suspended three months for remarks," 2 Aug. 2019 The realization that bees are insects, and that insecticides kill bees, is mind-boggling to entomologists. — Daniel Wolfe, Quartz, "Half a billion dead honey bees in Brazil show what happens when you roll back pesticide regulations," 22 Aug. 2019 If the plants are hybrid tea roses, resume your weekly insecticide and fungicide spray program. — Calvin Finch, ExpressNews.com, "It’s time to prep your roses, San Antonio," 16 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'insecticide.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.