Definition

This word describes something that is harmful or lethal to a specific group of tiny creatures known as acarids, which include mites and ticks.

Example

The acaricidal treatment effectively eliminated the mites from the garden.

Conversation

I read that some pesticides are acaricidal, which means they kill mites.

That's interesting! So they’re specifically designed for those pests?

Yeah, I guess that makes them effective for certain crops.

Absolutely, it’s good to know what products are safe and effective.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Acaricidal is formed from "acari" (from Latin *acarus*, meaning mite) and "-cidal" (from Latin *caedere*, meaning to kill). The word refers to a substance that kills mites.

Memory Tip

Think of 'acari' as referring to mites and '-cidal' meaning to kill — so acaricidal means something that kills mites.

Visually Confused Words