acaricide

noun

acar·​i·​cide ə-ˈker-ə-ˌsīd How to pronounce acaricide (audio)
-ˈka-rə-
Synonyms of acaricidenext
: a pesticide that kills mites and ticks
acaricidal
ə-ˌker-ə-ˈsī-dᵊl How to pronounce acaricide (audio)
-ˌka-rə-
adjective

Examples of acaricide 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.
Repellent can also help, as can treating your yard with acaricides — a type of pesticide focused on ticks and mites. — Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 6 Oct. 2023 Large-scale habitat control or acaricide (tick-killing) treatment of wildlife, though possible, can be difficult or not cost-effective for homeowners. — Joyce Sakamoto, Washington Post, 18 June 2018 This would either be an acaricide — a pesticide that kills ticks and mites, and is found in many pet flea collars and tick medications — or a vaccine that would make the deer more resistant to Lyme disease over time. — Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 24 Sep. 2025 Diagnosis is typically made through a clinical exam or skin testing, and treatment focuses on reducing the mite population with topical acaricides such as ivermectin or permethrin. — Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

acar(us) + -i- + -cide

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of acaricide was in 1841

Rhymes for acaricide

See All Rhymes for acaricide

Browse Nearby Words

acariasis
acaricide
acarid
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Acaricide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acaricide. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

acaricide

noun
acar·​i·​cide ə-ˈkar-ə-ˌsīd How to pronounce acaricide (audio)
: a pesticide that kills mites and ticks

More from Merriam-Webster on acaricide

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for acaricide

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about acaricide

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