shipworm
noun
ship·worm
ˈship-ˌwərm 
: any of various marine clams (especially family Teredinidae) that have a shell used for burrowing in submerged wood and a wormlike body and that cause damage to wharf piles and wooden ships
Examples of shipworm in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the 18th century, copper was used by the Royal Navy to protect wooden ships from barnacles and shipworms.
—
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2025
Archaeologists also found wood-eating shipworms called teredos, which suggests the vessel had sailed through the waters of the southern Atlantic Ocean—and may even have traveled as far south as the Caribbean.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 May 2025
The island’s wide, open beaches were perfect for careening hulls, beaching ships and listing them to one side to scrape off the foul barnacles and shipworms that infest the tropical Caribbean.
—Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
That could have huge consequences for the world Then there’s the underwater archeologist’s nightmare: shipworms.
—Laura Paddison, CNN, 14 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for shipworm
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.
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2025
Archaeologists also found wood-eating shipworms called teredos, which suggests the vessel had sailed through the waters of the southern Atlantic Ocean—and may even have traveled as far south as the Caribbean.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 May 2025
The island’s wide, open beaches were perfect for careening hulls, beaching ships and listing them to one side to scrape off the foul barnacles and shipworms that infest the tropical Caribbean.
—Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
That could have huge consequences for the world Then there’s the underwater archeologist’s nightmare: shipworms.
—Laura Paddison, CNN, 14 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for shipworm
Cite this Entry
“Shipworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shipworm. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shipworm
noun
ship·worm
-ˌwərm
: any of various marine clams that have a wormlike body and a shell used for burrowing in underwater wood and that cause damage to ships and wharves
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share