pesticide

noun

pes·​ti·​cide ˈpe-stə-ˌsīd How to pronounce pesticide (audio)
Synonyms of pesticidenext
: an agent used to destroy pests
pesticidal adjective

Examples of pesticide 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.
Mothballs are pesticide products made from naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, and, as with any pesticide, certain precautions should be taken and proper instructions need to be followed for success. Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 24 May 2026 Depending on the pesticide, the residue may affect those wasps upon return. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 May 2026 In the dark, predawn hours of December 3, 1984, a dense cloud of poisonous gas leaked from a pesticide plant and, borne on a soft, northern wind, enveloped Bhopal, a city in central India. Taran Dugal, New Yorker, 23 May 2026 Cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde, a compound found to disrupt the nervous system of insects, and works as a chemical-free pesticide to deter ants, fungus gnats, mites, aphids, mosquitoes, fruit flies, flies, and wasps. Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 23 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for pesticide

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pesticide was circa 1925

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pesticide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pesticide. Accessed 25 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

pesticide

noun
pes·​ti·​cide ˈpes-tə-ˌsīd How to pronounce pesticide (audio)
: a substance used to destroy pests
pesticidal
ˌpes-tə-ˈsīd-ᵊl
adjective

Medical Definition

pesticide

noun
pes·​ti·​cide ˈpes-tə-ˌsīd How to pronounce pesticide (audio)
: an agent used to destroy pests
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