worms

verb

Definition of wormsnext
present tense third-person singular of worm
1
as in encroaches
to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits neighborhoods worming into lands reserved for wildlife

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in infiltrates
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 snakes
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 worms MomTok got Taylor on the plane and off to star in The Bachelorette, but not before Dakota worms his way in one last time. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026 Guiteau eventually worms his way into an audience, ostensibly seeking an ambassadorship for his dubious contributions to the campaign but, in reality, requesting a path to greatness. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worms
  1. encroaches
  2. infiltrates
  3. snakes
  4. sneaks
  5. crawls
  6. inserts
  7. creeps
  8. slips
Verb
  • The case also determined that the neighbor has the right to trim any greenery that encroaches onto their property.
    — Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
  • As long as nothing encroaches on their territories, these mega-caps can continue to invent and profit with their core businesses generating consistent gains.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 28 June 2026
Definition of encroaches
Verb
  • When an outsider infiltrates the family, buried tensions surface and blood ties are severed.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 24 July 2026
  • Yet up here hardly a sound infiltrates the noble trees that surround the estate.
    — Nielsen Dinwoodie, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of infiltrates
Verb
  • The new district snakes up through Kansas City’s urban core, in an attempt to create a district more favorable for Republicans in the 5th District.
    — Jack Harvel July 28, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026
  • The story of McCarthy’s life was written on this winding street that snakes through a small, working-class corner of Pittsburgh where the Monongahela River bends.
    — Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of snakes
Verb
  • Andruw Jones sneaks in on his ninth year, his next-to-last try.
    — Greg Cote July 26, Miami Herald, 26 July 2026
  • And that’s where the Leonard situation sneaks into the equation.
    — Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of sneaks
Verb
  • Markets do not hold still for a year and a half while your deal crawls through due diligence.
    — Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Footage of the moment shows Menitoff acting as if nothing is happening as the bug crawls on her.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 16 July 2026
Definition of crawls
Verb
  • In honor of that legacy, Michelson often inserts Indigenous sovereignty into historically fraught public spaces.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 30 July 2026
  • Luz inserts the construction pole; Susana sniffs.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 26 June 2026
Definition of inserts
Verb
  • Complexity slowly creeps in, via the boardroom, presentations, decisions, relationships and finally, the ability to serve the consumer and the very reason why the company exists in the first place.
    — Sonal Jain, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • As our conversation extends into the hour mark, her hood creeps upward along the side of her face most visible to those around us.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 23 June 2026
Definition of creeps
Verb
  • And when a deadline finally slips, nobody knew you were stretched.
    — Andy Molinsky, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Across the project’s three waterfront buildings, there are 17 boat slips for residents.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026
Definition of slips

Browse Nearby Words

worming
worms
worm snake
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Worms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worms. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on worms

Nglish: Translation of worms for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of mitigate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All