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
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Recent Examples of worming
Clara ends up moving to the small town and worming her way into everyone’s hearts.
—
Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025
Traitors is worming its way in there.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025
Traitors is worming its way in there.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worming
Verb
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On her grandmother's island of Ambae, a coastal road from the airport to her village has been rerouted inland because of encroaching water.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
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On her grandmother’s island of Ambae, a coastal road from the airport to her village has been rerouted inland because of encroaching water.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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These businesses offer a way to entertain kids while sneaking in a little education.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
13 Mar. 2026
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But beyond sneaking small bombs past Israel’s air defenses, Iran’s use of cluster munitions may also be intended to try to reduce Israel’s stock of missile interceptors, potentially forcing it to fire dozens of them to eliminate the threat of a single missile.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Joseph also responded to worries about facial recognition and other surveillance technologies creeping into the system by emphasizing the cameras used in San Jose only record vehicles’ license plates.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Many perennial weeds produce deep tap roots or creeping rhizomes.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The levels of airborne chemicals detected in the gym’s basement suggest toxic vapors are infiltrating the building.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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The development comes after long-standing fears about Chinese agents infiltrating London’s political circle.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Others made a break for the bathrooms, crawling or running in a hunched position.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Mar. 2026
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When the bus snakes towards San Siro, crawling through the fans, Tomori will feel a familiar emotion.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Cosme did four months of physical therapy that were unsuccessful before surgeons performed a periacetabular osteotomy on her right hip, breaking her pelvis in four places and inserting four screws.—
Krystle Rich,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
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After their creation, ORPs are installed in the riverbed by inserting the metal pin into the bottom of the reef.—
Amaia Gavica,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Direct your gaze to the compact two-into-two Akrapovic exhaust snaking its way to the rear, where a sharp pillion cowl caps the seat.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
6 Mar. 2026
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Hundreds of millions of Chinese travellers embarked on the world’s largest annual migration, snaking across the country’s mammoth rail network to take part in Lunar New Year celebrations.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Ocean-facing rooms feel paradisiac, and mornings here arrive gently, with little more than light and salt air slipping through the windows.—
Gina Góngora,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
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Most runners have had an experience like this at some point and been left wondering how to add mileage without slipping into injury.—
Emma Loewe,
Outside,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worming. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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