worm

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 Last month, hackers wormed their way into Tea and accessed sensitive user data; 70,000 user images and more than 1 million private messages reportedly were leaked, including communications about abortions, users’ driver’s-license photos, and phone numbers that had been shared in private messages. Albert Fox Cahn, The Atlantic, 11 Aug. 2025 Born in Georgia, McAllister was a lawyer who married a minor heiress, toured Europe, then wormed his way into the upper echelons of New York’s elite, advising them on how to emulate the Old World’s aristocracy and becoming a special friend of Mrs. Astor. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 4 Aug. 2025 There's also the matter of the cartel's interest in leveraging Tommy to worm their way into the oil business. EW.com, 27 July 2025 Technically, the Singapore Sling is not a tiki drink, but this tropical concoction has wormed its way into the tiki canon. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 26 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for worm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worm
Verb
  • In fact, Riley said Black Mountain would allow a portion of one of the parks to encroach on its property.
    Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
  • In fact, many fans believe Walt Disney kept newspapers and television sets out of his parks so that guests could be fully immersed in a fantastical world, without reality or politics encroaching.
    Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Where Lil Boosie and Kevin Gates are hometown heroes, two artists who are direct ancestors for YoungBoy’s style, YoungBoy is more notorious, fodder for the gossip shows and the minor podcasts that infiltrate their way onto your timeline.
    Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Body-hugging jerseys and crisp poplin pieces also infiltrated Boero’s lexicon.
    Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Tree roots and ivy creepers have also snaked through the stonework.
    Barry Neild, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
  • The line snaked at least a half mile through Westgate and across north 95th Avenue to the west and north 93rd Avenue to the east.
    Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In an instant, the president inserted himself into doctor-patient relationships all over the country.
    Edith Bracho-Sanchez, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Close grill lid and cook until a thermometer inserted in center of steaks registers 122°F to 125°F (for medium-rare) or to desired degree of doneness, 10 to 20 minutes, depending on size of steak.
    Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Arisu crawls onto a mound of rubble for momentary relief, and is met with an angry Banda.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
  • At the time, officials concluded that a few mussels likely hitched a ride on a boat that had been in another infested area, most probably one of the Great Lakes in the Midwest, which are crawling with the critters.
    Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • New ones pop up every week, and old ones often sneak your data back in.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
  • That may open the door to Arseny Gritsyuk sneaking into the top nine after a strong training camp.
    The Athletic NHL, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Signs of fall are finally beginning to creep in.
    Essence, Essence, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Alabama and Ole Miss vaulted into the club with big wins, while Texas A&M crept into minus-odds territory with a home win against Auburn.
    Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Draped by defenders, the junior wideout corralled a miraculous catch in the red zone, then somehow slipped loose for a go-ahead 45-yard touchdown reception.
    Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
  • On certain wallpapers, the clock even has a depth effect, slipping behind the subject in your photo.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Worm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worm. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

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