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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of worm
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
Popping in and out of the party's campaign headquarters with abandon (Secret Service didn't begin to protect the president until 1901), Guiteau tries to worm his way into Garfield's circle and somehow profit.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Any deal would need to worm its way through the competition regulator.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
We as a community contain (often brain-wormed) multitudes, as evidenced by this year’s plethora gay Halloween costumes.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for worm
Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025
Popping in and out of the party's campaign headquarters with abandon (Secret Service didn't begin to protect the president until 1901), Guiteau tries to worm his way into Garfield's circle and somehow profit.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Any deal would need to worm its way through the competition regulator.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
We as a community contain (often brain-wormed) multitudes, as evidenced by this year’s plethora gay Halloween costumes.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for worm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worm
Verb
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On their endless search for nutrients, hyphae encroached into empty spaces.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
6 Apr. 2026
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Within minutes of Trump signing the order, top election officials in Oregon and Arizona, two states that rely heavily on mail ballots, pledged to sue, arguing that the president was illegally encroaching on the right of states to run elections.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Still, even there, in the reddest part of red America, the girlboss has infiltrated.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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In at least some of the recent cases, this involved infiltrating the victim’ delivery apps like DoorDash or Uber Eats with malware, allowing thieves to learn the victim’s address and other key information.—
Megan Cassidy,
San Francisco Chronicle,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Air travelers are paying the price of the shutdown with unpredictable, snaking TSA lines at airports across the country, jeopardizing their chances to pass through security on time for their flights.—
Graham Hurley,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
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The consequent disruptions ground some airports to a near-halt, while others contended with security lines that snaked out into parking lots and lasted upward of four hours.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Artists apply paint to replicate skin tones, and hair is inserted strand by strand.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
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The Justice Department inserted itself into Peters’ bid to be released while her state appeal was considered.—
Colleen Slevin,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Until Isaacman’s program makeover, Artemis III was crawling toward a moon landing no sooner than 2029.—
Marcia Dunn,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
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Woods’ car then rolled onto its driver’s side and he was forced to crawl out the window.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When showtime arrived, Ma sneaked in a side door just as cameras started to roll.—
Jane Bua,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Strome sneaked behind Anaheim's leaky defense and scored on a breakaway early in the second period, getting his fifth goal in 15 games since the Ducks traded him to Calgary last month.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Each time a cell divides, its DNA is copied, but mistakes inevitably creep in.—
Jerome Groopman,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Scientists knew it was triggered by the real world creeping in, but the exact microscopic cause remained out of reach.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Hughes says buyers had just started to get comfortable with rates around six percent, and that the higher that number goes the more that comfort begins to slip.—
Brad Hamilton,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
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But the Ducks managed just one shot on goal during the long power play, and Skjei slipped past Anaheim’s leaky defense on a breakaway and snapped a shot over Dostal’s right shoulder for a short-handed goal and a 3-0 lead with 58 seconds left in the second.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worm. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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