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
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Recent Examples of worm
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
Her strange presence in Georgia — where Gabbard reportedly arranged for FBI agents to make a post-raid call to the president — looks like nothing more than a way to worm her way back into his good graces.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Clara ends up moving to the small town and worming her way into everyone’s hearts.
—Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for worm
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026
Her strange presence in Georgia — where Gabbard reportedly arranged for FBI agents to make a post-raid call to the president — looks like nothing more than a way to worm her way back into his good graces.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Clara ends up moving to the small town and worming her way into everyone’s hearts.
—Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for worm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worm
Verb
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Jurado noted that tongues of salt water are already encroaching into some of the freshwater areas of South Florida.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
23 May 2026
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But Google’s Gemini is now encroaching into emails and calendars, photos and file storage.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
Verb
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Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio star in the story of competing undercover agents, with Damon’s Irish mobster embedding in the police force while Leo’s cop tries to infiltrate the crew of a powerful boss (Jack Nicholson).—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
23 May 2026
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Authorities have alleged that Roque was part of a broader intelligence effort that infiltrated exile groups.—
Abby Dodge,
Miami Herald,
23 May 2026
Verb
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The River Caqueta snakes nearly 1,800 miles into the heart of the Amazon rainforest.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
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The plaster, cave-like living room (complete with a cozy fireplace) served as a backdrop for trivia night; the ice-cold creek, which snakes along the five-acre property, was our personal swimming spot to chase off the heat of the day.—
Aemilia Madden,
Vogue,
27 May 2026
Verb
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His first chance will be against the Colorado Rockies’ Tomoyuki Sugano as Freeland was inserted into the starting lineup at second base.—
Liana Handler,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2026
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But Probst has made a gradual transition from hosting the show to shaping the show in his idealized image to, this season, inserting himself into the show and making it all about him.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
28 May 2026
Verb
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At sunset, the city starts glowing around you while traffic crawls silently below.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
28 May 2026
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Rescuers say the best course of action is to drain the cave, so the five can crawl out.—
Kocha Olarn,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Verb
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The nylon uppers make the style unbelievably lightweight on foot, while super minimal outsoles (which somehow sneak in support from EVA cushioning) add to the retro runner’s supreme flexibility.—
Olivia Cigliano,
InStyle,
24 May 2026
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Christie is preparing to launch a mysterious new line of suits, at a hundred thousand dollars apiece, a plan that the three women catch wind of when Corvette actually manages to get a foot in the door—by sneaking into Christie’s apartment.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
22 May 2026
Verb
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When coupled with a refund, opposition declined even further, falling to 38 percent; support crept into positive territory at 51 percent.—
Joseph Thorndike,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
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Signing Tuch also pushes the Red Wings’ chips all-in on the next two or three seasons, with Larkin and Tuch creeping toward the ends of their respective primes.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
Verb
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Far more money slips through the cracks in the welfare system each year.—
Rachel Sheffield,
Boston Herald,
26 May 2026
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And so her finances started to slip.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worm. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
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