earworm

noun

ear·​worm ˈir-ˌwərm How to pronounce earworm (audio)
1
: corn earworm
2
: a song or melody that keeps repeating in one's mind

Examples of earworm 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.
The show utilizes short, earworm-y musical hooks that act as an emotional first-aid kit for toddlers. — Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 3 June 2026 The edgy earworm soundtrack was crafted by musicians from the Chilean rock group Chancho en Piedra. — Andalusia K. Soloff, Christian Science Monitor, 4 June 2026 The former Girlpool member picks back up the acoustic guitar and, with it, her natural instincts for indie-pop earworms. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 26 June 2026 Their charismatically blunt power is the punk heart underneath every one of these melodic, hummable earworms. — Brendan Hay, SPIN, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for earworm

Word History

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of earworm was in 1802

Phrases Containing earworm

Browse Nearby Words

earwitness
earworm
eas
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Earworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earworm. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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