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 Keep your pet’s vaccines and worming medications up-to-date since they can be exposed to rabies, canine distemper and other parasites from raccoons and their waste. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 7 May 2025 Some shower caps use materials that can allow a certain amount of water to worm its way through, which entirely defeats the purpose of wearing the cap in the first place. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025 The pair share a complicated relationship from the early episodes of Season 1, where Sauron, disguised as a helpless traveler, wormed his way into her heart and good graces. Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 8 May 2025 This process has been a bit of a slog, with Google's models improving slowly while simultaneously worming their way into many beloved products. ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for worm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worm
Verb
  • In fact, city officials argue that homeowners who have built fences or garden beds close to the trail in the last three decades have encroached on the city's easement.
    Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 3 July 2025
  • But after the acquisition, the company decided that damage to the property from a previous fire and vandals, along with issues around the building encroaching on property lines with the city, made reopening unviable.
    Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Verb
  • These attacks allowed the actor to deploy backdoor accounts, spread ransomware and infiltrate sensitive systems across the network.
    Jonathan Fischbein, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
  • Perry also made headlines after filing for a restraining order against a man who allegedly infiltrated her property in Santa Barbara in June.
    Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 19 July 2025
Verb
  • Her group of spies, scouts, and other freedom fighters piloted three Union steamboats snaking up the lower Combahee River with Colonel James Montgomery of the Second South Carolina Volunteers and one battery of the Third Rhode Island Artillery.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
  • Younger sister Elle wore a black silk slip dress that hit just below the knee, with sheer straps and panelling that snaked down the bodice with light embroidery, paired with black kitten heels and a small rectangular clutch bag.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 16 July 2025
Verb
  • Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 July 2025
  • Cut a pocket into each chicken breast by inserting the tip of a chef’s knife in the thickest part of the breast and cutting a horizontal slit 3/4 of the way through the breast.
    Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 13 July 2025
Verb
  • Insects and other pests like rodents can easily crawl inside and make themselves at home.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 July 2025
  • This remains a place where crabs crawl out of the water at sunset, stingrays swim around surfers in the Pacific, and languidly smiling sloths—the national mascot—remind us all to slow down.
    Laura Dannen Redman, AFAR Media, 16 July 2025
Verb
  • This snack is a great way to sneak even more protein into your kid’s diet.
    Stephanie Ganz, Parents, 15 July 2025
  • Dianne witnessed Tiffany sneaking the card into her back pocket and confronted her.
    Alex Gurley, People.com, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • Battling Tool Sprawl Decision fatigue creeps in when consultants juggle a dozen unintegrated AI assistants, each with its own prompt syntax, data connectors and permission model.
    Noah Ohrner, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • From the Viking Mars orbiters and landers of the 1970s through the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers, which are still operating today, the Red Planet has crept from the dreadful waste seen by Mariner 4 to a place once covered in shallow oceans and with a possibly temperate atmosphere.
    Rod Pyle, Space.com, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • The elevated mini dress is a chill, one-and-done staple for the summer, with more than one way to go about it to fit it into your own personal style lexicon: think elegant shift dresses, easy linens, lacy slips, and more sporty numbers.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 20 July 2025
  • Imagined herself back in her closet, throwing the silky dress over her head, her arms slipping into the sleeves, the skirt falling over her like water.
    Mona Awad, New Yorker, 20 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Worm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worm. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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