worm

Definition of wormnext
1
as in to encroach
to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits neighborhoods worming into lands reserved for wildlife

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2
as in to infiltrate
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way over a period of several years, the undercover agent was able to worm his way into the drug kingpin's confidence

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3
as in to snake
to move slowly with the body close to the ground the cat silently wormed along the ground as it snuck up on the bird

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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 worm MomTok got Taylor on the plane and off to star in The Bachelorette, but not before Dakota worms his way in one last time. Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026 The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum initially believed that the bug, which eluded detection and caused countless medical issues, wormed its way into her system while filming Bravo's The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip in Morocco in early 2023. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026 Her strange presence in Georgia — where Gabbard reportedly arranged for FBI agents to make a post-raid call to the president — looks like nothing more than a way to worm her way back into his good graces. Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026 Clara ends up moving to the small town and worming her way into everyone’s hearts. Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for worm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worm
Verb
  • The latest installment shifts focus from the dynamic between Woody and Buzz to Jessie, telling a story about the encroaching role of technology in children’s development.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 22 June 2026
  • People around Putin cannot afford to step outside their sphere of responsibility or encroach on someone else’s interests (with some exceptions in the military and security services).
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • If your kids need to use the restroom, there is a lengthy stretch midway through the film where a small army of Buzz Lightyear toys infiltrate a campsite, and Buzz and Woody unplug Lily’s charger back at Bonnie’s house.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 18 June 2026
  • The story feels eerily prescient as AI continues to infiltrate everyday life, with some humans beginning to form emotional bonds with the humanlike programs in their life.
    Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • Note a new parade route this year, starting at the corner of 12th Avenue and North 3rd Street and snaking down 5th Avenue toward South 8th Street.
    Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 24 June 2026
  • Today, the two bands have announced the Bitch Cabal Tour, a co-headlining run snaking its way across the American Midwest and South this fall.
    Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Right now, Bright Uro is commercializing Glean, a miniature device that can be inserted non-surgically into the bladder and record data.
    Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026
  • The robot dynamically adjusts its posture and force when inserting and removing flexible wiring harnesses, ensuring secure connections without damaging sensitive battery components.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Seltz’s system crawls hundreds of millions of pages a day, and returns results in under 200 milliseconds.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 24 June 2026
  • The animal eventually crawled under a dock.
    Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Argentina won the last World Cup after losing its opener to lowly Saudi Arabia, Portugal won Euro 2016 after sneaking into the knockouts following three draws in the group stage and Spain won the 2010 World Cup after losing its opening match to Switzerland.
    Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
  • Steer snuck a slow roller under the glove of the second baseman Chisholm, and as Steer surged to second, José Caballero — who moved from left field to center field an inning earlier — came up throwing.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • As our conversation extends into the hour mark, her hood creeps upward along the side of her face most visible to those around us.
    José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 23 June 2026
  • For my microgeneration, the disillusionment crept in with the savage failure of the Iraq War.
    Christopher Hooks, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • For anyone looking to channel the current more-is-more styling energy, the answer may be as simple as slipping on a pair of red shoes.
    Lauren Fisher, Footwear News, 23 June 2026
  • Industry watchers are wondering aloud whether the AI lab is slipping back from the lead pack in the AI race.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 23 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Worm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worm. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

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