worm

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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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 At the same time, Waltz tried to flip the script and blame Goldberg -- suggesting the editor could have somehow wormed his way in to the group chat. Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2025 The popular genre is inexpensive to produce and compelling to view, and a new documentary or documentary series always seems to worm its way into the zeitgeist. Brian Welk, IndieWire, 29 Oct. 2024 The plot might seem repetitive, going back and forth between Violet trying to follow the anonymous rules and worming her way out of them to seek help (only to be outsmarted), but the movie’s exciting, stage-like formal flourishes and its disorienting lensing keep things moving smoothly. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 10 Mar. 2025 Chain Reactions Director: Alexandre O. Philippe Featuring: Patton Oswalt, Takashi Miike, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Stephen King, Karyn Kusama United States, 2024 For fifty years, Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has terrified audiences by worming its way into their subconscious. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for worm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worm
Verb
  • Cities vehemently opposed the bill, saying the changes would encroach on their ability to deal with crimes specific to their areas.
    Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 16 May 2025
  • Mining activity—specifically gold mining and exploration of other minerals—encroached on nearby land in the Yellowstone River watershed.
    Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • That includes artificial intelligence, which has infiltrated the workplace, from job applications and interviews to even mentorship.
    Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
  • Also in the first film, Ethan infiltrates a secure vault at CIA headquarters in Langley, VA, which was supposed to be monitored by William Donloe (Rolf Saxon).
    Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • It’s carved from a snaking mulberry branch and adorned with microchips, with a C.P.U. fan and a small desk clock embedded in the smoothly polished wood near its head.
    Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 29 May 2025
  • The time-lapse video shows a plasmoid snaking across the sun at almost 62 miles (100 kilometers) per second.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • He was inserted into the game with a 2-0 count, one runner on and one out in the seventh inning against Corona.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025
  • Merely insert a capsule, select a strength, and then press a button to create a cocktail, such as a martini, daiquiri, and more in just a few seconds.
    Terri Williams, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • The woman crawled to her bathroom and pulled the emergency cord, then the facility staff called 911, deputies said.
    Olivia Lloyd, Sun Sentinel, 22 May 2025
  • Here, 15 of the softest sheets that will convince you that crawling into bed at 9 p.m. is equivalent to self-care.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • But eventually, the neighbor realized Mystery had been sneaking out against his wishes, as Mystery is an indoor cat only.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
  • The Pacers, meanwhile, have solidified themselves as title contenders after sneaking their way into the conference finals last year.
    Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 27 May 2025
Verb
  • For years, the Birch Glacier has been creeping down the mountainside, pressured by shifting debris near the summit.
    Dave Graham, Christian Science Monitor, 29 May 2025
  • Despite this, his ownership didn’t creep over the 10 per cent mark until the period around Newcastle’s Double Gameweek 32, with his brace against Leicester City in Gameweek 31 a particular highlight for my season, providing my biggest rank jump of the run-in.
    Holly Shand, New York Times, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • The team has just one win during the past seven games, has given up 20 goals during that spell and slipped to sixth place in the Eastern Conference heading into a road game Saturday against the first-place Philadelphia Union.
    Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 21 May 2025
  • Shares of Lockheed have slipped nearly 3% so far in 2025.
    Brian Evans, CNBC, 21 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Worm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worm. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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