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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Groundcover Low-growing groundcover junipers seldom need pruning except to remove dead tips resulting from winter damage or to keep them from encroaching on other plants, sidewalks, driveways or structures.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Feb. 2026
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The male cockroaches are territorial, defending females in their area and competing against encroaching rivals.—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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These irresistible, creamy purée treats are perfect for picky eaters, bonding moments and sneaking in hydration—cats can’t get enough of them.—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
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Their parties became notorious even in my own cliques; my parents knew to expect at least a few dozen teenagers crashing their party, sucking down all the noodles, and sneaking beers in the canyon down below.—
Natasha Pickowicz,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That’s because one of the star ingredients, snow mushroom extract, boasts exceptional water retention, locking moisture into your hair, sealing the cuticle, and preventing humidity from creeping in.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2026
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When exhaustion overtakes them, something more sinister comes creeping from the shadows.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Thematically, Wuthering Heights is reminiscent of the director’s previous movie, Saltburn, which also saw a rough outsider infiltrating the upper class in Britain.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
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The story begins with the Minions infiltrating Hollywood and pitching their own monster movie.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At 5 feet 6 inches tall, the then-20-year-old Angeleno was considered short for industry standards, but that didn't stop her from edging out frontrunners Yaya DaCosta and Amanda Swafford at the finale in Japan — or from taking bold risks, like posing with a tarantula crawling across her face.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Feb. 2026
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Another initiative involves designing specialized robots (not humanoid) capable of crawling through mud and water to clear underground tunnels.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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With the help of the architecture firm Gensler and the design company Blueprint Studios, Live Nation is studying the possibility of inserting a second large, but more manageable, 5,000-person venue underground.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
10 Feb. 2026
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Some people—in fear of being accused of using AI—are purposely inserting grammatical errors or typos to make their prose look more human, experts say.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, Moscow escalated its attacks on Ukraine's power grid in an apparent effort to deny civilians power and to weaken public support for the war, while hostilities continued along the roughly 600-mile front line snaking through eastern and southern parts of Ukraine.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
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Russia appears to be aiming to deny civilians power and weaken public support for the fight, while hostilities continue along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line snaking along eastern and southern parts of Ukraine.—
EMMA BURROWS,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Beer that turned green − possibly a chemical reaction with the drugs Dominque Pelicot had been slipping into her drinks and food to render her unconscious for the rapes.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
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There is no feeling quite like slipping into a bed made up with brand-new sheets.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worming. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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