1
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
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
To my great embarrassment, the Velvet Sundown’s songs even managed to worm their way into my brain.
—
Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 4 July 2025
The flea larvae, which look like tiny maggots, worm their way into the carpet or mattress, feeding on the flea dirt that their parents left behind, says Benson.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 31 Mar. 2025
Here, somehow the Dama survives being burned to death and manages to worm her way back into Hershel’s life.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
Despite the gloomy overtones, Loznitsa’s powerful movie asserts that goodness hides within the confines of institutional control, worming its way through the boundaries of bureaucratic red tape in an effort to do some good.
—Eric Kohn, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for worm
Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 4 July 2025
The flea larvae, which look like tiny maggots, worm their way into the carpet or mattress, feeding on the flea dirt that their parents left behind, says Benson.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 31 Mar. 2025
Here, somehow the Dama survives being burned to death and manages to worm her way back into Hershel’s life.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
Despite the gloomy overtones, Loznitsa’s powerful movie asserts that goodness hides within the confines of institutional control, worming its way through the boundaries of bureaucratic red tape in an effort to do some good.
—Eric Kohn, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for worm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worm
Verb
-
During the same period, explorers began encroaching on the islands, including Captain James Cook and British fur trader John Meares, whose arrival is depicted in episode 2.—
Christopher Rudolph,
People.com,
4 Aug. 2025
-
But the move also means encroaching on the turf of chipmaker customers such as Qualcomm.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
31 July 2025
Verb
-
Use your hands to agitate the cushion covers so the soapy water infiltrates the fabric.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
13 Aug. 2025
-
On Monday, Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups were infiltrating areas near northwest of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region near where Russian forces likely have made advances, according to the Institute for the Study of War.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Looking like a wild morning glory, field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) is a vigorous perennial vine that often snakes its way up, over, and through your garden plants.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
9 Aug. 2025
-
Telltale details of artifice surface in these larger gallery images: Backdrops emerge more prominently, noticeable seams and threads materialize in artificial arrangements, a layer of dust coats a fake bamboo plant, a rubber hose snakes into a seemingly untrammeled landscape.—
Lisa Wong Macabasco,
Vogue,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Trump is even inserting himself peronally in the narrative now, accusing JPMorgan Chase of dumping him as a customer following his first term in office.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
6 Aug. 2025
-
These systems also enforce best practices by inserting up-to-date clauses around borrower accountability, citizenship status and financial covenants.—
Adam Craig,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Adam crawls along the floor, left, about to put his finger in an electrical outlet, right, while his baby watches from afar.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
-
The company argued that its AI assistants operate on behalf of a user's request and are not systematically crawling the web for training data.—
Paulo Carvão,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Frances Haugen, a Facebook product manager turned whistleblower, snuck over ten thousand pages of documents and internal messages out of Facebook headquarters.—
Noah Giansiracusa,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
-
When Wednesday later sneaks into Willow Hill to get her Uncle Fester (Fred Armisen) out of the psychiatric hospital as well as uncover the outcast experiments happening in the basement, things go south when a monster breaks free.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Still, Windows 11, the figure Microsoft is keenest to see grow is creeping up and is now at 59.9%, almost exactly three fifths, then.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Raven motifs crept into the production design at every turn: Nevermore Academy’s front gates, Principal Weems’ office, roof tiles that resembled feathers, and the school’s mascot.—
Daron James,
IndieWire,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The open front is easy to slip on, while the eye-catching buttons allow for versatility of wear — bundle up or leave it open for an airy feel.—
Nicol Natale,
People.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Since AirTags were made to track objects like keys and bags, slipping one into a shoe was just a matter of time.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Worm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worm. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share