kissing bug

noun

Any of a number of haematophagous bugs belonging to the subfamily Triatominae that feed on the blood of vertebrates, including humans, and which are known for spreading Chagas' disease.

Similar
conenose bugvampire bugconenosecone-nosed bugbig bedbug
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Meanings

nounkissing bug (plural kissing bugs)

plural kissing bugs

  1. Any of a number of haematophagous bugs belonging to the subfamily Triatominae that feed on the blood of vertebrates, including humans, and which are known for spreading Chagas' disease.

    Synonyms: conenose bug, vampire bug

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAny of a number of haematophagous bugs belonging to the subfamily Triatominae that feed on the blood of vertebrates, including humans, and which are known for spreading Chagas' disease.

Similar
conenose bugvampire bug

More synonyms by meaning

nounlarge bloodsucking bug

Similar
conenosecone-nosed bugconenose bugbig bedbug
Broader
assassin bugreduviid
Also see
barbeiroconenoseconenose bugreduviidvampire bug

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From kissing + bug: they often feed on the lips of human victims.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Portuguese barbeiro
  • barbeiroany haematophagous bugs in the subfamily Triatominae
Cite this entry
APA

kissing bug. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kissing%20bug

MLA

“kissing bug.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kissing%20bug. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kissing bug,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kissing%20bug.

Source: kissing bug on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.