earworm
noun
ear·worm ˈir-ˌwərm 
1
: corn earworm
2
: a song or melody that keeps repeating in one's mind
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web After being released in 1994, the song became an instant earworm (and a karaoke go-to) thanks in large part to its instrumental intro, powered by a zampoña (traditional Andean panpipe), which lures you in. 
Billboard Staff, Billboard, 9 Sep. 2022 These choices turned out to be astute: Each was a highly melodic, hummable piece — an earworm — not too complicated to follow, but not so simple that the musicians couldn’t find treasures inside them. Michael J. West, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2022 The catchy earworm, Khosla says, happened with ease. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 29 July 2022 The two paired together well, bringing a new vibe to the earworm of a song. Annie Nickoloff, cleveland, 10 July 2022 Toprak’s anthem is a triumphal, brass- and drum-heavy earworm that builds in intensity and power over its full three-minute duration. Jon Burlingame, Variety, 19 July 2022 The ‘90s house-meets-bounce record is a bonafide earworm: The beat tingles up your spine, begging you to quickly find a dancefloor as the lyrics allow for a bit of mental release from these depressing times. Niki Mcgloster, refinery29.com, 24 June 2022 The result was a sort of love theme for the then-nascent MTV Age: an easy-listening earworm given an indelible visual dimension. Brad Shoup, Billboard, 23 May 2022 Art wrote jingles, those brief snatches of song designed to plant an earworm and create a customer. Washington Post, 26 Apr. 2022 See More
Billboard Staff, Billboard, 9 Sep. 2022 These choices turned out to be astute: Each was a highly melodic, hummable piece — an earworm — not too complicated to follow, but not so simple that the musicians couldn’t find treasures inside them. Michael J. West, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2022 The catchy earworm, Khosla says, happened with ease. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 29 July 2022 The two paired together well, bringing a new vibe to the earworm of a song. Annie Nickoloff, cleveland, 10 July 2022 Toprak’s anthem is a triumphal, brass- and drum-heavy earworm that builds in intensity and power over its full three-minute duration. Jon Burlingame, Variety, 19 July 2022 The ‘90s house-meets-bounce record is a bonafide earworm: The beat tingles up your spine, begging you to quickly find a dancefloor as the lyrics allow for a bit of mental release from these depressing times. Niki Mcgloster, refinery29.com, 24 June 2022 The result was a sort of love theme for the then-nascent MTV Age: an easy-listening earworm given an indelible visual dimension. Brad Shoup, Billboard, 23 May 2022 Art wrote jingles, those brief snatches of song designed to plant an earworm and create a customer. Washington Post, 26 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1802, in the meaning defined at sense 1