1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of worm
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
In recent years, inclusion mandates and training have wormed their way into virtually every facet of American life, including (but certainly not limited to) Hollywood, corporations and academia, just to name a few of the most prominent targets.
—Matt K. Lewis, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2025
While all this is going on, Chloe begins secretly hanging out and hooking up with Tyler's friend Ryan (West Mulholland), a sinister jock who worms his way into her good graces as a shoulder to cry on.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
For context, the US intelligence community is currently reeling after discovering that hackers linked to the PRC wormed their way deep into US telecommunications infrastructure, potentially compromising things like phone calls and text messages.
—WIRED, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for worm
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2025
In recent years, inclusion mandates and training have wormed their way into virtually every facet of American life, including (but certainly not limited to) Hollywood, corporations and academia, just to name a few of the most prominent targets.
—Matt K. Lewis, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2025
While all this is going on, Chloe begins secretly hanging out and hooking up with Tyler's friend Ryan (West Mulholland), a sinister jock who worms his way into her good graces as a shoulder to cry on.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
For context, the US intelligence community is currently reeling after discovering that hackers linked to the PRC wormed their way deep into US telecommunications infrastructure, potentially compromising things like phone calls and text messages.
—WIRED, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for worm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worm
Verb
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This demon used to be a giant boar, but was driven mad after being shot with an iron bullet, a sign that civilization is irreversibly encroaching on the natural world.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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Brenda Deal, who wants to sell her house there, learned her garage and shed might be encroaching on the right of way, based on GIS maps.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Setting Dani’s debut in motion: When an undercover FBI agent was killed in the field, Jubal’s team made the unnerving discovery that the identities of multiple UCs have been compromised — including Maggie, who had just infiltrated an increasingly skittish eco-terrorist group.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
2 Apr. 2025
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Over the last few weeks, LeBron James‘ cultural influence reached another sphere outside of sports when his name and likeness infiltrated the music world.—
Regina Cho,
VIBE.com,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Developed over two years, the Serpenti Aeterna watch snaking around the wrist features a clasp closure mechanism and signature hexagonal scales etched in the inner contour.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
1 Apr. 2025
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At the antiques shop, overflowing with bronze sculptures and ornate lamps, a train snakes through to dispense tea.—
Rachel Sherman,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
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No ancient dire wolf genes themselves were directly inserted into the genome, however.—
Andrea Thompson,
Scientific American,
8 Apr. 2025
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Water enemas: For this treatment, your healthcare provider gently inserts water into your colon to soften and release hard or stuck stool.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Health,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.—
Helena Wegner,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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Senators from both sides of the aisle are reigniting efforts to crawl back technology companies’ legal immunities with hopes bipartisan support in Congress could push the bill across the finish line this session and gain the backing of President Trump.—
Miranda Nazzaro,
The Hill,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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How did Passover and Easter sneak up on us so fast?—
Gretta Monahan,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 2025
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But a better travel pillow does all that and sneaks an extra day’s worth of clothing onto the plane without catching a gate agent’s attention.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This creeping groundcover thrives in dappled shade and is a good choice for the front of a perennial border or growing between trees and shrubs in a woodland garden.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Apr. 2025
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Beyond that, temperatures will creep above normal into the weekend and early next week.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But are we really supposed to believe that wife-of-the-year Karen Wilson would let such an important date slip her mind?—
Andy Swift,
TVLine,
3 Apr. 2025
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Apparently, his son Jabari fell from an A+ to an A in spelling, so Darnell is living up to his promise of beating Gregory’s ass if Jabari’s grades ever slipped.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Worm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worm. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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