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
-
Luis Palma stepped up to take it, and Wickens got down low to his right-hand side to keep it out, only for the save to be scratched off as Ross County players encroached into the box.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
-
However, over the last decade, a group of challengers have encroached on OpenTable’s turf—particularly Resy, which was acquired by American Express in 2019 and is known for its partnerships with buzzy restaurants.—
TIME Contributors,
Time,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The menu is full of sustaining stews, ample vegetables and, from the toné (clay oven), khachapuri, a genre of breads infiltrated by cheese and by turns fluffy, elastic, oozy and tender.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
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For anyone whose home has been infiltrated by mice, or termites, pest control is worth the cost.—
Ana Durrani,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Technology has crept into one of the oldest hobbies known to humanity.—
Jamie Siebrase,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
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Every scene that would otherwise communicate pandemonium is rendered in the language of sub-Ryan Murphy slop, as if a movie whose production costs reportedly crept toward $200 million could only afford a few extras at a time.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Desperate to save them, records show, doctors inserted tubes into their airways and hooked them up to IVs.—
Duaa Eldeib,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
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Environmentalists are rejecting California’s implementation of its landmark single-use plastic law taking, claiming regulators inserted loopholes favoring the plastic industry.—
Susanne Rust
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Verb
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When a Republican says something foolish, network anchors react like a gator just crawled into the studio wearing a MAGA hat.—
Larry Clifton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
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The next day, steady rains caused the F1 Academy race to be cancelled and the first 20 laps of the Miami Grand Prix to be crawled behind the safety car.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Novo’s share price has plunged by almost three quarters since its peak in 2024 and has slipped down the ranking of Europe’s most valuable companies.—
Anna Cooban,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
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The infants had slipped through a gap between the mattress and a side rail.—
Kenny Jacoby,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Queues snaked around London’s Wembley Arena on Sunday, waiting for a rare opportunity to see the Chinese team in action in the United Kingdom.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
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On Thursday morning, a line of private boats snaked around the perimeter, and once passengers disembarked, Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo was there to greet each visitor.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
8 May 2026
Verb
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The homer, which snuck just inside the foul pole in right field, was upheld after being reviewed by umpires.—
CBS New York Team,
CBS News,
7 May 2026
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Tweedy even snuck in a callback to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot with a clue about the NATO alphabet (a Times crossword staple).—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wormed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wormed. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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