1
as in encroached
to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits
neighborhoods worming into lands reserved for wildlife
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in infiltrated
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 wormed
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
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
After a scramble from Baltimore’s corner kick, Kerr’s header at the back post wormed through a thicket of defenders, and Cuthbert had the final touch.
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
This story has wormed its way into all levels of British cultural output.
—Will Collins, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026
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
After a scramble from Baltimore’s corner kick, Kerr’s header at the back post wormed through a thicket of defenders, and Cuthbert had the final touch.
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
This story has wormed its way into all levels of British cultural output.
—Will Collins, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wormed
Verb
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In an era when IP is king at the theatrical box office, particularly when it’s encroached upon by streaming, what’s the trick to figuring out if an original project can play to a mass audience or a Gen Z one?—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
22 Jan. 2026
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Palace intrigue encroached on his confidence at times.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Months of covert planning led to the brazen operation that plunged the South American country’s capital into darkness as troops infiltrated Maduro’s home and whisked him to the United States to face drug trafficking charges.—
Konstantin Toropin,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
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Recent high-profile reports claiming micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) have infiltrated the human brain, arteries, and testes are facing a major scientific backlash.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This book by Jessamine Chan crept its way into my marrow and refused to get out.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Shots stopped falling, turnovers crept in and possessions that had previously looked sharp dissolved into hurried attempts and empty trips.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Place skillet in preheated oven, and cook until a thermometer inserted into thickest portion of chicken registers 165°F, about 20 minutes.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2026
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Bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the steak reads 130°F–135°F for medium-rare, about 5 minutes.—
Eric Wareheim,
Saveur,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Three roaches crawled on the floor elsewhere.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
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In some cases, these restaurants crawled — for decades — so that Charlotte’s food scene could walk.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Iran had, 10 days earlier, fired a barrage of missiles at Israel in response to its attacks, including one that slipped through Israel's sophisticated air defenses and landed in the heart of its capital, Tel Aviv.—
Tucker Reals,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
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On a frigid day late last month, a Russian attack drone slipped through Ukraine’s air-defense systems and glided into Kyiv’s government district, heading in the direction of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Lines have snaked outside of Christy’s Tasty Queen all week, full of people hoping to get their hands on a few final pork tenderloin sandwiches.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Irrigation tubes snaked across the craters of empty plant holes.—
Rachel Becker,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Rodrigues deked Woll and snuck the puck past him for the Panthers’ third goal of the period.—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Feb. 2026
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Svetlana Dali, a mentally ill stowaway who sneaked onto a flight to Paris last year, is back to her plane-hopping ways.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wormed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wormed. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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