What does "wormwood" mean?
An intensely bitter herb (Artemisia absinthium and similar plants in genus Artemisia) used in medicine, in the production of absinthe and vermouth, and as a tonic.
Wormwood
/ˈwɚm.wʊd/ name, noun
name, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An intensely bitter herb (Artemisia absinthium and similar plants in genus Artemisia) used in medicine, in the production of absinthe and vermouth, and as a tonic.
- Grammar: wormwood is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: absinthe flavoring, absinthium, artemisia, bitter herb.
- Useful contrasts: delight, happiness, joy.
- Usage evidence: Among field flowers the most noted are the May Lily, the Ground Ivy, the Bluebottle, Camomile and so on; and among herbs, Trefoil, Wormwood, Sorrel, the Nettle and so forth.
How to use "wormwood"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "wormwood" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "wormwood" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "wormwood" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "wormwood" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "wormwood" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "absinthe flavoring" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "wormwood", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An intensely bitter herb (Artemisia absinthium and similar plants in genus Artemisia) used in medicine, in the production of absinthe and vermouth, and as a tonic. countable, uncountable
"But as I said, / When it did taste the wormwood on the nipple / Of my dug and felt it bitter, pretty fool, / To see it tetchy and fall out with the dug!"
- 2 any of several low composite herbs of the genera Artemisia or Seriphidium wordnet
- 3 Something that causes bitterness or affliction; a cause of mortification or vexation. countable, figuratively, uncountable
"The irony of this reply was wormwood to Zeluco; he fell into a gloomy fit of musing, and made no farther inquiry […]."
Proper Noun
- 1 A star or angel that appears in the Book of Revelation, turning waters bitter and poisonous. countable, uncountable
"And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter."
- 2 A surname. countable, uncountable
"Having got the address from the school records, Miss Honey set out to walk from her own home to the Wormwoods’ house shortly after nine."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Among field flowers the most noted are the May Lily, the Ground Ivy, the Bluebottle, Camomile and so on; and among herbs, Trefoil, Wormwood, Sorrel, the Nettle and so forth."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "wormwood"?
Common synonyms include: absinthe flavoring, absinthium, artemisia, bitter herb, bittering herb, bitterness.
How do you use "wormwood" in a sentence?
Among field flowers the most noted are the May Lily, the Ground Ivy, the Bluebottle, Camomile and so on; and among herbs, Trefoil, Wormwood, Sorrel, the Nettle and so forth.
How do you pronounce "wormwood"?
Pronounced /ˈwɚm.wʊd/.
Etymology
From Middle English wormwode, a folk etymology (as if worm + wood) of wermode (“wormwood”), from Old English wermōd (“wormwood, absinthe”), from Proto-West Germanic *warjamōdā (“wormwood”). Cognate with Middle Low German wermode, wermede (“wormwood”), German Wermut (“wormwood”). Doublet of vermouth.