worming

present participle of worm
1
as in encroaching
to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits neighborhoods worming into lands reserved for wildlife

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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

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.
Recent Examples of worming After a series of personal setbacks, Ingrid moves to Los Angeles to be closer to Taylor, masterminding their meeting and worming her way into her inner circle. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026 The best success comes using it in jungle-thick cover, worming a minnow down between uncooperative branches. — John Phillips, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026 In terms of the complex set design — which looks like a facsimile of the same passage over and over but with subtle differences worming their way in — Kawamura and his team built two identical corridors for cinematographer Keisuke Imamura to follow the actors through, third- and first-person-style. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worming
Verb
  • Under California law, encroaching roots or branches that cause damage can give a property owner grounds to pursue a nuisance claim or seek compensation, depending on the circumstances.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Still, that didn’t stop the pair from giving their opinions on the encroaching role that the technology is taking on in Hollywood.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Bus noise was a similar story, with the low engine rumble handled well and only some of the higher-frequency intermittent sounds sneaking through.
    — Christian de Looper, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026
  • For a solid thirty minutes, the candidates defended their honor as the race’s most pro-Israel candidate — at times sneaking in jabs about their opponent.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Eisenkot is viewed by supporters as a capable leader with sterling security credentials who, along with his likely governing partners, could act as a bulwark against creeping illiberalism.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Gusts of more than 60 mph are possible in parts of the Outer Banks with 40 to 50 mph gusts creeping toward the Interstate 95 corridor in North Carolina and southern Virginia.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Desperate to see him and be by his side during his final days, Valeria commissions his artist wife, Isla (Hall), to paint her portrait— covertly infiltrating the intimate inner workings of Martin’s home and family.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The hacker seems to have done so by infiltrating a content delivery network server from Level Infinite, and adding the malicious payload on September 27th.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 4 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Insects crawling around three-compartment sink and hand wash sink in kitchen.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Pack a blackout sleep mask just in case There’s nothing worse than finally crawling into your hotel bed after a long travel day, only to discover that the curtains don’t fully close and a streetlight is shining directly onto your pillow.
    — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 1 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Nakase changed her starting lineup in a move that paid huge dividends after Golden State fell behind 2-1, inserting Kaila Charles and Tiffany Hayes and bringing Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini off the bench.
    — Janie McCauley, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Both of New Orleans’ victories have come since first-year coach Jamahl Mosley tinkered with the starting lineup, inserting versatile Croation Karlo Matkovic at and defensive standout Herb Jones at shooting guard.
    — Brett Martel, AJC.com, 1 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • The pair notices that others can’t make calls, either; a restaurant loses its checkout interface; and everyone is snaking cords around to keep devices charged for the moment when service returns.
    — Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Unsurprisingly, the idea of comically long private paths snaking through fragile wetlands so a lucky few can get to their boats wasn’t popular with the public.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Joggers Who doesn’t love slipping into sweatpants on crisp fall days?
    — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The album’s experimental bent is also what keeps the music from slipping into parody or, even worse, po-faced sincerity.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 30 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Worming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worming. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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