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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Pop culture’s most successful earworms are rarely a fluke—they’re often carefully crafted to maximize memorability. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Feb. 2026 Every year, these flashy performances — from classic movie-musical extravaganzas to Disney earworms to Bond themes to power ballads — are the highlight of an already ridiculously flashy ceremony. Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026 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 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 Feb. 2026.

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