wormwood
A wormwood plant is a type of shrub that grows leaves with tiny bitter spots. Some people also use the word 'wormwood' to describe an unpleasant or bitter taste.
Wormwood has been used for centuries as a medicine, but it's not something you'd want to eat by accident. It's also often mentioned in literature and music when describing something or someone that feels bitter or unhappy. If you're reading a fantasy novel about witches and magic, wormwood might be the plant they use for spells. In some cases, people use the word 'wormwood' metaphorically to describe a situation that feels hopeless or toxic.
How common is "wormwood"?
It appears most frequently in fiction texts and less often in other writings.
noun
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.
Real examples of "wormwood" in context
