Earworm

Quick meaning: Earworm is a noun meaning A tune that keeps replaying in one's head or that one keeps thinking about, especially if unwanted.

Meaning

A tune that keeps replaying in one's head or that one keeps thinking about, especially if unwanted.

More Meanings

1. (originally US) Ellipsis of corn earworm (“larva of the moths Helicoverpa zea (syn. Heliothis zea) and Helicoverpa armigera, which are agricultural pests”).
2. (archaic) An earwig (“insect of the order Dermaptera”).

Example Sentences

I had planned in mind to tell you [...] how I protected, that is, guaranteed, Evergreen sweet corn against the bud worm and the ear worm; [...]

And with the way he's turned our music into my own personal ear worm, I think I'm actually getting this artistry thing he keeps yammering on about.

The number of bollworms or ear worms increases greatly as the season advances. This indicates a need for hastening the maturity of all crops affected.

The chorus [of "Meeting in the Ladies Room" by Klymaxx] spawned an earworm so potent that women still mutter it as they exit for a bathroom break twenty years later.

Word Forms

• earworms
• ear worm
• ear-worm

Synonyms for earworm

Depending on context, synonyms include brainworm.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include corn, ear-worm, brainworm, repetend, earache, ring.

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