worm

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 In terms of the complex set design — which looks like a facsimile of the same passage over and over but with subtle differences worming their way in — Kawamura and his team built two identical corridors for cinematographer Keisuke Imamura to follow the actors through, third- and first-person-style. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026 With the ability to worm its way through sensitive developer pipelines and machines, CanisterWorm represents a serious escalation of the TeamPCP’s campaign to steal as many credentials as possible. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 24 Mar. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for worm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worm
  1. encroach
  2. infiltrate
  3. snake
  4. insert
  5. crawl
  6. sneak
  7. creep
  8. slip
Verb
  • This may encroach on some of Cardinal Health's territory, but the company does a lot more than transport medicines from Point A to Point B.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 9 July 2026
  • The funk and rock sounds fight against ever-encroaching mud and hiss; pretty melodies are offset by punishing bass or rendered disorienting by creative panning in the mix.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 July 2026
Definition of encroach
Verb
  • Dee joins Rick Devens from Survivor 50, Big Brother 26 breakout Angela Murray, and RuPaul’s Drag Race star Jason De Puy/Salina EsTitties as previous reality competition TV veterans infiltrating the season 28 house.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 11 July 2026
  • Now much of their thinking has infiltrated nu-conservatism, and the rest of us have been forced to learn about Braden Peters, better known as Clavicular—the king of the looksmaxxing sphere.
    — Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 11 July 2026
Definition of infiltrate
Verb
  • Singer-songwriter and guitarist Nick DiSalvo’s plaintive vocals and snaking riffs can gently suggest thoughtful indie rock or tense up to show off more doom-adjacent roots.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 July 2026
  • Food trucks reopened after the storm and long lines snaked around the vendor area.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Definition of snake
Verb
  • The launch materials are full of claymation selfies, custom postcards, and pets inserted into famous paintings.
    — Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • Unlike conventional launches that depend on nearby naval vessels or coastal infrastructure, the new method allows crews to insert an uncrewed boat directly into contested or hard-to-reach waters.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026
Definition of insert
Verb
  • The lights off method is a simple means of identifying places in the garage where bugs or rodents might be crawling in.
    — Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 7 July 2026
  • Their father dismounted, went down on foot, climbed the fence his son had crawled under.
    — Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
Definition of crawl
Verb
  • Butch standing there in his plaid pajamas, sneaking sugar cubes to Rambler and Snowy.
    — Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
  • When grounders sneaked through the infield, his body language was uneventful.
    — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of sneak
Verb
  • Sizzling conditions will creep farther east by Monday, reaching the foothills of the Rockies and into more of the Plains.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
  • Throw it on before bed for a creeping loss of temporal traction and wild dreams.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 July 2026
Definition of creep
Verb
  • But instead of slipping into fixer mode, reflect on what the situation is exposing to you about an emotional pattern.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
  • This portable misting fan is more discreet than a spray bottle fan on a lanyard and svelte enough to slip into a purse or backpack.
    — Abbey Hudetz, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
Definition of slip

Browse Nearby Words

worldwide
worm
wormed
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Cite this Entry

“Worm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worm. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on worm

Nglish: Translation of worm for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about worm

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