wormwood
Bitter aromatic shrub
Wormwood is a bitter aromatic plant, especially *Artemisia absinthium*, used historically in medicine and as the key flavoring in absinthe.
The intense bitterness made wormwood a biblical symbol of suffering and divine punishment.
Figuratively, wormwood means a source of bitterness or grief: The betrayal was wormwood to him.
Unpleasantly sharp-smelling
- astringentTissue-contracting agent
- gallImpudent boldness or bitterness
- harshUnpleasantly severe or rough
- unpalatableUnpleasant to taste
tart · pungent · bile · bitterness · digestive · tonic · aperitif · flavoring
Prophetic biblical finale
- fallen starFormer luminary, now obscure
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- trumpetValved brass wind instrument
plague · prophecy · waters · end-times · omen · tribulation · chastisement · woe
Agent expelling intestinal parasites
- antiparasiticAgent destroying parasites
- digestiveRelating to food breakdown
- tonicInvigorating medicinal drink
- folk remedyTraditional unofficial medical treatment
traditional medicine · herbal remedy · deworming · intestinal · malaria · apothecary · tincture · poultice
Dubiously attractive, morally suspect
- PernodFrench anise spirit brand
- vermouthHerb-infused fortified wine
- aniseLicorice-flavored seed plant
- licoriceAnise-flavored confection
bohemian · Parisian · ritual · Montmartre · Van Gogh · prohibition · distillation · maceration
Sharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- regretSorrow over past actions
Hamlet · C.S. Lewis · metaphor · affliction · anguish · lamentation · tragedy · suffering
Recurring each year
- silveryPale metallic sheen
- shrubSmall woody plant
- leavesTree's photosynthetic organs
- sagebrushAromatic arid-land shrub
tarragon · southernwood · drought-tolerant · hardy · cultivation · garden · foliage · ornamental
acrid
Unpleasantly sharp-smelling
- astringentTissue-contracting agent
- gallImpudent boldness or bitterness
- harshUnpleasantly severe or rough
unpalatable · tart · pungent · bile · bitterness · digestive · tonic · aperitif · flavoring · medicinal
Revelation
Prophetic biblical finale
- fallen starFormer luminary, now obscure
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
trumpet · plague · prophecy · waters · end-times · omen · tribulation · chastisement · woe · symbolic
vermifuge
Agent expelling intestinal parasites
- antiparasiticAgent destroying parasites
- digestiveRelating to food breakdown
- tonicInvigorating medicinal drink
folk remedy · traditional medicine · herbal remedy · deworming · intestinal · malaria · apothecary · tincture · poultice · infusion
louche
Dubiously attractive, morally suspect
licorice · bohemian · Parisian · ritual · Montmartre · Van Gogh · prohibition · distillation · maceration · aperitif
bitterness
Sharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
regret · Hamlet · C.S. Lewis · metaphor · affliction · anguish · lamentation · tragedy · suffering · poetic
perennial
Recurring each year
sagebrush · tarragon · southernwood · drought-tolerant · hardy · cultivation · garden · foliage · ornamental
herbal
Relating to medicinal plants
silvery · dried · infusion · sachet · smudging · terpenes · essential oil · bitter herbs
- Artemisiastarragon, sagebrush, southernwood, big sagebrush, silver sage
- bitter thingsbitter melon, quinine, tonic water, black coffee, espresso
- apocalypseapocalypse, Armageddon, end times, rapture, tribulation
- Bible plantsacacia, almond, almond blossom, almond tree, aloe
- Biblical plantsfig, olive branch, olives, grapes, vines
- Bitter Plantsbitter melon, bitter orange, gentian, hops, dandelion