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black widow
noun
: a venomous New World spider (Latrodectus mactans of the family Theridiidae) the female of which is black with an hourglass-shaped red mark on the underside of the abdomen
broadly
: any of various related venomous spiders that have a large globular, usually glossy, dark abdomen often marked with red and long and wiry legs
Examples of black widow in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Critter calendar:All of the bugs that come out in spring in Arizona, from lady bugs to black widows
Are carpenter bees dangerous?
Carpenter bees are generally not considered dangerous to humans.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 13 May 2024
Here’s how to identify black widow spiders — and how to avoid them.
—Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 28 May 2024
Very few people experience severe pain and cramping from a black widow bite or joint pain from a brown recluse bite.
—Amanda Gardner, Health, 27 May 2024
Most spiders in Arizona are not venomous, but the familiar and often-feared black widow and brown recluse pack a threat.
—Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 16 Mar. 2024
Among these are black widow spiders; the formidable Arizona bark scorpion, known for its venomous sting; and the strikingly colored mustard yellow paper wasps, recognized for their distinctive nests and painful stings.
—The Arizona Republic, 14 Feb. 2024
The homes of black widow spiders reflect their practical nature; black widows spin irregular, mesh-like webs, not the artistic, symmetrical ones associated with orb-weavers.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024
The black widow is the most harmful spider to humans in the state.
—oregonlive, 18 July 2023
My grandfather almost died of a black widow bite many years ago.
—Tim MacWelch, Outdoor Life, 3 May 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'black widow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1830, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near black widow
Cite this Entry
“Black widow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black%20widow. Accessed 17 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
black widow
noun
: a poisonous New World spider the female of which is black with an hourglass-shaped red mark on the underside of the abdomen
Medical Definition
black widow
noun
black wid·ow
-ˈwid-ˌō
: a venomous New World spider of the genus Latrodectus (L. mactans) the female of which is black with an hourglass-shaped red mark on the underside of the abdomen
broadly
: any other spider of the genus Latrodectus
More from Merriam-Webster on black widow
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about black widow
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