plural thrips
: any of an order (Thysanoptera) of small to minute sucking insects many of which feed often destructively on plant juices
Examples of thrips in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In containers, the main pests to look for are thrips, mealybugs, and aphids.
—
Abigayle Ward, Hartford Courant, 20 July 2024
Pests Many sap-sucking insects target pepper leaves, including aphids (damage shown above), whiteflies, thrips, leafhoppers, and spider mites.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 July 2024
Although the flowers are quite lovely and attract native bees and minute pirate bugs (an insect that feeds on thrips, spider mites, and aphids), plants can become weedy if allowed to set seed.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 28 June 2024
In Florida horticultural specialists and entomologists are working to control a winged insect known as the thrips parvispinus.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thrips 
Abigayle Ward, Hartford Courant, 20 July 2024
Pests Many sap-sucking insects target pepper leaves, including aphids (damage shown above), whiteflies, thrips, leafhoppers, and spider mites.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 July 2024
Although the flowers are quite lovely and attract native bees and minute pirate bugs (an insect that feeds on thrips, spider mites, and aphids), plants can become weedy if allowed to set seed.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 28 June 2024
In Florida horticultural specialists and entomologists are working to control a winged insect known as the thrips parvispinus.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thrips
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thrips.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Thrips.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thrips. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.
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