wormwood

noun

worm·​wood ˈwərm-ˌwu̇d 

1

: artemisia

especially : a European plant (Artemisia absinthium) that has silvery silky-haired leaves and drooping yellow flower heads and yields a bitter dark green oil used in absinthe

2

: something bitter or grievous : bitterness

Examples of wormwood in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Michael asks, bitter as wormwood. —Roy Scranton august 20, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2025

To cleanse yourself of these parasites, influencers usually recommend supplements with a mix of ingredients—such as wormwood and clove—and a diet plan centered around whole, unprocessed foods. —Jenna Anderson, Health, 8 Aug. 2025

Heated by a wood fire, the water is infused with minerals released from the rocks and wormwood leaves (Artemisia absinthium) — the key ingredient of absinthe spirit — before it’s dispensed into rectangular wooden tubs in private compartments. —Joe Yogerst, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025

Full sun Soil Type: Dry, well-draining, average Soil pH: Acidic to alkaline (6.0-8.0) USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 8 Silver varieties of artemisia or wormwood provide a beautiful underplanting to roses. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wormwode, folk-etymological alteration of warmode, wermod, going back to Old English wermōd, going back to West Germanic *wermōda- (whence Old Saxon wermōda, Old High German wermuota), perhaps going back to a derivative of a base *wermo- "bitter," dissimilated from dialectal Indo-European *(s)u̯eru̯o- (whence Welsh chwerw "bitter," Old Irish serb)

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for wormwood

• allgood
• basswood
• beechwood
• bellwood
• birchwood
• boxwood
• boyhood
• brushwood
• childhood
• cordwood
• dogwood
• driftwood

Kids Definition

wormwood

noun

worm·​wood ˈwərm-ˌwu̇d 

1

: a European plant that is related to the daisies and yields a bitter dark green oil

2

: something bitter or painful

it was wormwood for him to accept charity

Medical Definition

wormwood

noun

worm·​wood ˈwərm-ˌwu̇d 

: artemisia sense 2

especially : a European plant (Artemisia absinthium) yielding a bitter slightly aromatic dark green oil used in absinthe