Illustration of weevil
: any of a superfamily (Curculionoidea) of beetles which have the head prolonged into a more or less distinct snout and which include many that are destructive especially as larvae to nuts, fruit, and grain or to living plants
especially
: any of a family (Curculionidae) having a well-developed snout curved downward with the jaws at the tip and clubbed usually elbowed antennae
Examples of weevil in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The female weevil chews her way into the base of the plant to lay her eggs in spring.
—
Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Sep. 2023
Biological control, also called biocontrol, has had many stunning victories, from ladybugs that saved the California citrus industry in the late 1800s to weevils that helped save the Florida Everglades from an onslaught of invasive trees a century later.
—Nala Rogers, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023
Agave snout weevil is another large black weevil, but this one attacks Agave, Agave relatives, golden barrel cactuses, and even some Opuntia.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Oct. 2022
During nuclear winter, wild foods surviving in tropical forests will include baobab trees, mopane worms, and palm weevils.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 14 June 2022
In University Heights, residents lobbied successfully for protection of Canary Island Date Palms from palm weevils, with regular spraying by city maintenance crews.
—Dirk Sutro, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2023
Keep in mind that this trap is not exclusive to root weevils and may trap beneficials as well.
—oregonlive, 3 June 2023
More mescal production might mean more agave plants for worms to live in, but crop damage (especially from the agave snout weevil, which was a contender for the mescal worm’s identity) could lead growers to start using pesticides in earnest.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 8 Mar. 2023
What is a weevil, anyway?
—Korin Miller, SELF, 12 July 2022
See More
Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Sep. 2023
Biological control, also called biocontrol, has had many stunning victories, from ladybugs that saved the California citrus industry in the late 1800s to weevils that helped save the Florida Everglades from an onslaught of invasive trees a century later.
—Nala Rogers, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023
Agave snout weevil is another large black weevil, but this one attacks Agave, Agave relatives, golden barrel cactuses, and even some Opuntia.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Oct. 2022
During nuclear winter, wild foods surviving in tropical forests will include baobab trees, mopane worms, and palm weevils.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 14 June 2022
In University Heights, residents lobbied successfully for protection of Canary Island Date Palms from palm weevils, with regular spraying by city maintenance crews.
—Dirk Sutro, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2023
Keep in mind that this trap is not exclusive to root weevils and may trap beneficials as well.
—oregonlive, 3 June 2023
More mescal production might mean more agave plants for worms to live in, but crop damage (especially from the agave snout weevil, which was a contender for the mescal worm’s identity) could lead growers to start using pesticides in earnest.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 8 Mar. 2023
What is a weevil, anyway?
—Korin Miller, SELF, 12 July 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'weevil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English wevel, from Old English wifel; akin to Old High German wibil beetle, Old English wefan to weave
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of weevil was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing weevil
Articles Related to weevil
Dictionary Entries Near weevil
Cite this Entry
“Weevil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weevil. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
weevil
noun
wee·vil
ˈwē-vəl 
: any of a family of mostly small beetles that have the head long and usually curved downward to form a snout bearing the jaws at the tip and that include many that feed on and are very harmful to plants or plant products (as nuts, fruit, and grain) especially as larvae
called also snout beetle
compare boll weevil
More from Merriam-Webster on weevil
Nglish: Translation of weevil for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about weevil
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