assassin bug

noun

: any of a family (Reduviidae) of bugs that are usually predatory on insects though some (such as a kissing bug) suck the blood of mammals

called also reduviid

Illustration of assassin bug

Illustration of assassin bug

Examples of assassin bug 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.
The Armando assassin bug was also found on cacao farms in a region of Colombia that has suffered lots of deforestation for agriculture and livestock, the researchers said. — Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 22 July 2024 Unlike squash bugs, assassin bugs are solitary critters, and they’re rarely seen in groups. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of assassin bug was in 1890

Rhymes for assassin bug

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Browse Nearby Words

assassination
assassin bug
assassin fly
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Cite this Entry

“Assassin bug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assassin%20bug. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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Medical Definition

assassin bug

noun
as·​sas·​sin bug ə-ˈsas-ᵊn- How to pronounce assassin bug (audio)
: any bug of the family Reduviidae compare conenose

More from Merriam-Webster on assassin bug

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about assassin bug

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