bookworm

noun

ˈbu̇k-ˌwərm How to pronounce bookworm (audio)
Definition of bookwormnext
as in nerd
a person slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits a bookworm who prefers reading to just about any other activity

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bookworm Every cocktail feels like a deep dive into storytelling, and for a bookworm like me, this bar was an absolute highlight. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026 Dua Lipa and Callum Turner are writing a new chapter in their romance, tying the knot two years after a meeting that would make most bookworms swoon. — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026 Alastair Stout plays Harry’s best friend Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton portrays bookworm Hermione Granger. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 6 May 2026 Kyra Belle Johnson stars as Belle, the bookworm who doesn't quite fit into her quiet village. — Courtney Cole, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bookworm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bookworm
  1. nerd
  2. geek
Noun
  • That gives Porsche’s 911 nerds more time to come up with a creative solution to their current hybrid predicament.
    — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The cool part about the idea of video is introducing more people to hip-hop writing outside of us nerds.
    — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of nerd
Noun
  • By default, these devices mark the wearer not only as a geek, but as a try-hard and an egoist.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
  • There’s a whole world of lagers out there that would make even the snobbiest beer geek do a double take—beers that have nothing in common with the watery brews that once defined the style for so many Americans.
    — Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of geek

Browse Nearby Words

booksellers
bookworm
bookworms
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bookworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bookworm. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on bookworm

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bookworm

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All