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
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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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Elements of punk, adolescence, and glam-rock all infiltrated the runway.—
Brett F. Braley-Palko,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Unlike traditional sabotage, these hackers infiltrated networks to remain dormant and undetected, gaining the ability to disrupt the United States’ communications and power systems during a future crisis.—
Saman Zonouz,
The Conversation,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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What had once been weekend drinking crept into weeknights.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
27 Jan. 2026
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As responders handled the scene, cars crept past on the roadways, dusted white.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Hashibami chose a key from a heavy bundle and inserted it into the door, unlocking it with a click.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
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From a security standpoint, eSIMs can actually be more secure than physical SIMs because they can’t be removed and inserted into another device as easily.—
Ken Colburn,
AZCentral.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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During rush hour, drivers crawled along at an average speed of just under 19 miles per hour.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
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But that was well over a year ago, and the procurement process has crawled ever since.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Oil prices slipped after jumping more than 3% on Thursday due to worries about tensions between the United States and Iran, which could ultimately constrict the flow of crude.—
Matt Ott,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
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Mission slipped into 2025 because ULA needed more Vulcan rocket hardware beyond Cert-2 and the two USSF missions that took priority over the Dream Chaser flight.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
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The dramatic cover continues to guide the drama of the party, from Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) choosing Benedict as her bachelor of the season to Eloise (Claudia Jessie) discovering her sister Hyacinth (Florence Hunt) had snuck in to the ball.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
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Before voting on that proposal, councilmembers snuck in Bill 40-24 in May 2024 to change how their own pensions will be calculated.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wormed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wormed. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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