mawworm

mawworm

A mawworm wriggles in the soil.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A parasitic worm: "mawworm" refers to a worm that infests the stomach or intestines, especially in animals.
    • A hypocritical or sanctimonious person (figurative, archaic): In a derogatory sense, "mawworm" describes someone who pretends to be pious or virtuous while hiding corrupt or selfish motives.
Usage Examples

  • Literal sense:

    • The veterinarian diagnosed the calf with a mawworm infestation. (The calf had parasitic worms in its digestive tract.)
    • Sheep suffering from mawworm often lose weight and become lethargic. (The worms cause illness in livestock.)

  • Figurative sense:

    • He was a sneering mawworm, always preaching morality but secretly cheating his clients. (He was a hypocritical person who pretended to be good.)
    • The politician's speech was full of hollow piety; everyone knew he was a mawworm. (He was insincere and self-righteous.)
Advanced Usage
  • "to play the mawworm": to act in a hypocritically humble or pious manner.
    • The businessman played the mawworm at charity events, though he had embezzled funds. (He pretended to be virtuous for public image.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Maw (n): the stomach or throat of an animal (especially a carnivore).
    • The lion's maw was filled with fresh meat. (The animal's stomach or mouth.)
  • Worm (n): a long, slender, soft-bodied invertebrate animal.
    • The soil was full of earthworms after the rain. (A common type of worm.)
Synonyms
  • Parasite: an organism that lives on or in another and benefits at the host's expense.
  • Hypocrite: a person who pretends to have virtues or beliefs they do not actually possess.
  • Sanctimonious person: someone who makes a show of being morally superior.
Phrasal Verbs
Related Idioms
  • A snake in the grass: a hidden enemy or treacherous person.
    • He seemed friendly, but he was a snake in the grass, much like a mawworm. (A deceitful person.)
  • Worm one's way into: to insinuate oneself gradually into a situation or group.
    • She wormed her way into the charity board, acting like a mawworm. (She entered through dishonest means.)