worm

Definition of wormnext
1
as in to encroach
to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits neighborhoods worming into lands reserved for wildlife

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Relevance
2
as in to infiltrate
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

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3
as in to snake
to move slowly with the body close to the ground the cat silently wormed along the ground as it snuck up on the bird

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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 worm 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 The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum initially believed that the bug, which eluded detection and caused countless medical issues, wormed its way into her system while filming Bravo's The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip in Morocco in early 2023. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026 Her strange presence in Georgia — where Gabbard reportedly arranged for FBI agents to make a post-raid call to the president — looks like nothing more than a way to worm her way back into his good graces. Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026 Clara ends up moving to the small town and worming her way into everyone’s hearts. Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for worm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worm
Verb
  • Immersive experiences like Meow Wolf, Activate Games, or the Sphere in Las Vegas are also encroaching, offering visitors something truly novel (no offense to funnel cakes).
    HubSpot, HubSpot, 1 June 2026
  • In Kalokol, a major fishing community on the lake's western shore, many have now been displaced three times as the waters continue to encroach.
    Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • Likewise, in fashion, bandanas, plaid shirts, prairie skirts, and Western boots have been busy infiltrating our wardrobes.
    Elle Turner, Glamour, 31 May 2026
  • Unbeknownst to all, Daisy is a spy sent to infiltrate Gilead.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 27 May 2026
Verb
  • Photos and a video Aiello provided show bladed wire snaking around the decomposing animal’s neck and curved horns, as well as the front legs, in a desert landscape dotted with boulders.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
  • The concept is sure to be alluring to many travelers, as snaking lines from March’s government shutdown still loom large in fliers’ collective memories and summer vacation crowds begin to throng terminals.
    Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • Before the true ad break begins, networks like to insert a little commercial bumper.
    Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 4 June 2026
  • And men are indeed lengthening their limbs, flying to international clinics, having metal rods inserted into their bones, and then, after a brutal recovery process, relearning how to walk.
    Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • While some political observers are brushing off speculation that a deluge of ballots could allow Steyer to crawl into the top two, conservative activists are keeping a close watch.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 5 June 2026
  • The next day, with water levels having dropped inside the cave, the remaining four men caught rescuers by surprise, crawling out on their own just as divers were getting ready to go in and get them.
    Janis Mackey Frayer, NBC news, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • Autonomous task forces of drones could be assigned to defend against specific threats — Russian subs sneaking into the Atlantic Ocean, say, or a possible amphibious landing on Taiwan.
    Editorial, Boston Herald, 30 May 2026
  • Still, there have been occasional opportunities to sneak in some bigger names.
    Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • Chartreuse creeping Jenny adds even more contrast.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 June 2026
  • But even after this evacuation, the 911 call log and the new county report show sheriff’s deputies responded to an increasing number of spot fires and flare-ups that continued to creep farther west.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • With wings, with loyal mind, Ursula slipped free.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
  • And after a day navigating crowds, returning to the hotel feels kind of like slipping back behind a velvet rope.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Worm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worm. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.

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