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
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
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
-
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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Intolerance had infiltrated the sport, and football decided to fight back.—
Colin Millar,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
-
While contrast therapy has long been popular in Scandinavia, it’s only recently infiltrated mainstream US culture, especially in big cities like New York and Los Angeles.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And the warmer temperatures have crept into February.—
Paris Barraza,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
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The Leafs game did lag late, as sloppiness crept in before Bobby McMann sealed the win with an empty net goal.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cook the beef low and slow in a 275° F oven for 1¼ to 1½ hours, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the horizontal end of the tenderloin reads 125° F for rare or 135° F for medium-rare at the center.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Feb. 2026
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Vonn had a partial titanium replacement inserted in her right knee in 2024 and then returned to ski racing last season after nearly six years of retirement.—
Andrew Dampf,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One live roach crawled on the floor in front of a storage rack with seasoning and cans.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
6 Feb. 2026
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Maybe the girl had crawled under a neighbor's trailer while playing hide-and-seek.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But in their daring escape through the window, the crown of Empress Eugénie slipped from their grasp and was left battered on the pavement below.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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One of The Kid’s classmates slipped through an inflatable ring in my pool, and her mom had to jump in, fully clothed, after her, but that near mishap only seemed to bring our group closer together.—
Jen Wang,
Vogue,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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During peak meal hours, food lines snaked endlessly.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
By noontime, the line snaked away from the entrance for several blocks.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But then, on a sweltering Alabama afternoon in the summer of 2024, somebody snuck into the police department’s evidence room.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The first was an odd-angle shot that sneaked by Andrei Vasilevskiy.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wormed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wormed. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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