earworm

noun

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

Examples of earworm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Among the 15 potential Song nominees, Nine Inch Nails, Ed Sheeran, Miley Cyrus, and one of those earworms from KPop Demon Hunters all made the initial cut. Alex Suskind, Pitchfork, 16 Dec. 2025 Bad news for Harbour—each track is an absolute earworm. Hilton Als, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025 The anthem has stood the test of time over the course of a quarter-century and feels embedded in the DNA of pop music with an earworm of a chorus. Michael Saponara, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2025 Sam Smith — ‘La La La’ More than a decade after its release, ‘La La La’ is back in the spotlight thanks to a choreography trend paired with its earworm chorus. Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Earworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earworm. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.

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