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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
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.
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 One person’s psych-up song is another’s annoying earworm. Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 15 Oct. 2025 When combined Robinson’s primal screams and the writing team’s knack for crafting slightly askew sentences that turn into dialogue earworms, the fake company names a potent blend of comedy that feels like it was always destined to define comedy in the 2020s. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 13 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 27 Nov. 2025.

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