kissing bug

noun

: any of various large bloodsucking bugs and especially some assassin bugs (genus Triatoma) including some capable of inflicting painful bites

called also conenose

Examples of kissing 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.
Remove wood, brush, and rock piles near your house where kissing bugs may dwell. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 18 Sep. 2025 Unlike ticks, kissing bugs do not attach to a host. — Greta Cross, Freep.com, 17 Sep. 2025 Eleven types of kissing bugs can be found in the United States. — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025 Experts recommend that if a kissing bug is found, it should not be crushed. — Raul Trey Lopez, San Antonio Express-News, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for kissing bug

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kissing bug was in 1899

Rhymes for kissing bug

See All Rhymes for kissing bug

Browse Nearby Words

kiss impression
kissing bug
kissing cousin
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kissing bug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kissing%20bug. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on kissing bug

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about kissing bug

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