1
as in encroaching
to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits
neighborhoods worming into lands reserved for wildlife
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in sneaking
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
3
as in creeping
to move slowly with the body close to the ground
the cat silently wormed along the ground as it snuck up on the bird
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worming
Verb
-
In fact, many fans believe Walt Disney kept newspapers and television sets out of his parks so that guests could be fully immersed in a fantastical world, without reality or politics encroaching.—
Natasha Chen,
CNN Money,
25 Sep. 2025 -
Washington’s only voice in Congress criticized the bills for encroaching on the district’s governance.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At one point, after Paul has relapsed, Catt comes home and catches a woman sneaking out of their house.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Counihan said Robles rented a car and drove 35 hours over four to five days, sneaking Louie into motels along the way and documenting the entire journey.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The latest forecast shows Imelda creeping along Florida’s coast for the next few days — a slowdown from Saturday’s forecast.—
Alex Harris
Updated September 28,
Miami Herald,
28 Sep. 2025
-
First, during this same time, genre elements, and specifically dark speculative elements, were creeping into all fiction.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And when his claims about a lobbyist infiltrating the summit bear out, Alex winds up breaking a story that makes news that evening.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
24 Sep. 2025
-
The Savant star took to Instagram to share her perspective on the network delaying the miniseries, which follows an investigator infiltrating domestic extremist groups, indefinitely.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For a child who’s crawling or walking, a mat with pop-up walls or fencing can keep your little one safe and contained.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Waking up an hour earlier than expected and being hosed with mountain runoff water while crawling in the pool tested my resilience and determination.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Aunt Agnes might not have been included in the will, but that doesn’t mean she’s done inserting herself into family business.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
-
This past May, Remy addressed Shields directly via Instagram for inserting herself into the former couple’s issues.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In the early 1990s, after being dropped from RCA Records at age 39, Crow bought 10 acres of rolling pastures above the snaking West Harpeth River in Franklin, Tennessee, for $175,000, according to the Wall Street Journal.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Brea and La Habra move into a snaking district in Los Angeles County centered on Downey.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
On certain wallpapers, the clock even has a depth effect, slipping behind the subject in your photo.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Brian sees Ellen from across the crowd, standing with Malcolm, and Murtagh can’t resist slipping a verbal dagger into his cousin’s ribs.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
26 Sep. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Worming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worming. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share