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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of worms
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
Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worms
Verb
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As the Chinese men shoot the breeze and play cards, a mob of armed white miners gathers over the hill and encroaches on the unsuspecting outsiders.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
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Cloud Dancer, a white that is both warm and cool, reflects an overwhelmed feeling among consumers as the world feels louder and technology, in particular AI, encroaches further into our lives.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Created by Eden, Moshe Zonder and Maor Kohn, written by Tony Saint and Simon Allen, and directed by Daniel Syrkin, the series stars Niv Sultan as a Mossad hacker-agent who infiltrates Tehran under a false identity, Shaun Toub, and Shila Ommi.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Feb. 2026
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Based on a 2019 Cosmopolitan article, the limited series follows an undercover investigator, played by Chastain, who infiltrates domestic extremist groups to thwart catastrophic large-scale attacks.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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From the mouth of Lake of the Woods, the Warroad River snakes through the middle of the city limits, a few blocks from the headquarters of Marvin Windows and Doors, the employer as synonymous with the town as the sport of hockey.—
Dave Campbell,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
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The dining room features a sprawling chandelier that snakes its way across the ceiling.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Carolyn sneaks into a gala; Klein, the fairy godmother, introduces her to the instantly besotted prince, John.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
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Nasir Khan, a scrawny Pakistani American college student living with his parents in Queens, sneaks out and drives his dad’s taxi to a party in Manhattan.—
Stephanie Bai,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As with aftermarket switchable sway bar systems, drivers can lock the sway bars in place for better handling and stability at speed and unlock them completely for maximum articulation during bumpy rock crawls.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
9 Feb. 2026
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Ma crawls toward you and plants her palms on your cheeks.—
Molly Aitken,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, Catherine’s ignored handmaid, Nelly (Hong Chau), inserts herself into everyone’s drama out of pique.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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Perhaps most perceptively captivating is the sweetly cunning way Marczak inserts himself into the film.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Suspicion and shame drenched Hanceville like the fog that creeps down Main Street.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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Mintz agrees that intentional time matters, especially when guilt creeps in.—
Jennifer Jay Palumbo,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Responsibility slips quietly from the user to the tool.—
Deb Roy,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
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An arctic cold front slips through the area as the clipper system that brought light snow Friday will drop temperatures dangerously low overnight.—
Vytas Reid,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worms. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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