as in sneaks
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way
over time, undercover agents infiltrated the crime ring and eventually busted their gambling racket
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Recent Examples of infiltrates
The film centers on a wealthy family whose polished exterior begins to crack when an ancient centipede spirit infiltrates their bloodline.
—
Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
When investigative journalist infiltrates the group, the noose around the sect begins to tighten.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
Directed by Daniel Chong, the movie is about a 19-year-old environmentalist who infiltrates the animal world in the body of a beaver.
—Lindsey Bahr, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
Directed by Daniel Chong, the movie is about a 19-year-old environmentalist who infiltrates the animal world in the body of a beaver.
—Lindsey Bahr, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Use your hands to agitate the cushion covers so the soapy water infiltrates the fabric.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
Based on a 2019 Cosmopolitan article, the limited series follows an undercover investigator, played by Chastain, who infiltrates domestic extremist groups to thwart catastrophic large-scale attacks.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2026
Newberry co-stars as a woman who infiltrates the cult in search of her missing sister.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2026
The lakes overlay sand that rapidly infiltrates water, carrying it into the ground or into the district’s 30 storage basins.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026
Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
When investigative journalist infiltrates the group, the noose around the sect begins to tighten.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
Directed by Daniel Chong, the movie is about a 19-year-old environmentalist who infiltrates the animal world in the body of a beaver.
—Lindsey Bahr, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
Directed by Daniel Chong, the movie is about a 19-year-old environmentalist who infiltrates the animal world in the body of a beaver.
—Lindsey Bahr, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Use your hands to agitate the cushion covers so the soapy water infiltrates the fabric.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
Based on a 2019 Cosmopolitan article, the limited series follows an undercover investigator, played by Chastain, who infiltrates domestic extremist groups to thwart catastrophic large-scale attacks.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2026
Newberry co-stars as a woman who infiltrates the cult in search of her missing sister.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2026
The lakes overlay sand that rapidly infiltrates water, carrying it into the ground or into the district’s 30 storage basins.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infiltrates
Verb
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Ortiz sneaks field recordings and samples into these songs, too—each adding texture to the universe of her songs and evoking the wider world that exists just outside the frame of her narration.—
Marissa Lorusso,
Pitchfork,
24 Mar. 2026
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But some sunlight still sneaks through Earth’s atmosphere, bends around the planet and lands on the moon.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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Guiteau eventually worms his way into an audience, ostensibly seeking an ambassadorship for his dubious contributions to the campaign but, in reality, requesting a path to greatness.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The change added a room where prisoners are to be examined and prepped for either a standard peripheral IV, or a central line — a more invasive procedure that inserts into the internal jugular in the neck, a femoral vein in the upper thigh or a subclavian vein in the chest.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
11 Mar. 2026
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Meanwhile, Catherine’s ignored handmaid, Nelly (Hong Chau), inserts herself into everyone’s drama out of pique.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The initial wave will be the strongest, NEXT Weather meteorologists say but will gradually get weaker overnight as the front slips to the south.—
Joseph Dames,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
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Talent slips to through the cracks.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Infiltrates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infiltrates. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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