often attributive
1
a
: earthworm
broadly
: an annelid worm
b
: any of numerous relatively small elongated usually naked and soft-bodied animals (such as a grub, pinworm, tapeworm, shipworm, or slowworm)
2
a
: a human being who is an object of contempt, loathing, or pity : wretch
b
: something that torments or devours from within
4
: helminthiasis
—usually used in plural
5
: something (such as a mechanical device) spiral or vermiculate in form or appearance: such as
a
: the thread of a screw
b
: a short revolving screw whose threads gear with the teeth of a worm wheel or a rack
c
: archimedes' screw
also
: a conveyor working on the principle of such a screw
6
: a usually small self-contained and self-replicating computer program that invades computers on a network and usually performs a destructive action
wormed; worming; worms
: to move or proceed sinuously or insidiously
1
a
: to proceed or make (one's way) insidiously or deviously
worm their way into positions of power—
Bill Franzen
Bill Franzen
b
: to insinuate or introduce (oneself) by devious or subtle means
c
: to cause to move or proceed in or as if in the manner of a worm
2
: to wind rope or yarn spirally round and between the strands of (a cable or rope) before serving
3
: to obtain or extract by artful or insidious questioning or by pleading, asking, or persuading
—usually used with out of
finally wormed the truth out of him
4
: to treat (an animal) with a drug to destroy or expel parasitic worms
Examples of worm in a Sentence
Noun
I often see worms in the garden.
We always used worms as bait for fishing.
Verb
He slowly wormed through the crowd.
He slowly wormed his way through the crowd.
You should have the dog vaccinated and wormed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 27 July 2025
The team found that, on average, worms treated with one specific flavor of nanoflower survived for days longer than their untreated counterparts (which typically live for around 18 days) and were less likely to die during the early stages of their lives.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 26 July 2025
From being the face of a labor action against Hooters as a teen to filming on The Hills years before her own reality TV breakthrough on Vanderpump Rules to partying with Paris Hilton at Les Deux and dating John Mayer, Scheana Shay has wormed her way into every potential site of 2000s nostalgia.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for worm
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Even if your visit doesn’t align with the incredible glow worm light display, there are still several reasons to have Pine Cay on your vacation shortlist.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 27 July 2025
The team found that, on average, worms treated with one specific flavor of nanoflower survived for days longer than their untreated counterparts (which typically live for around 18 days) and were less likely to die during the early stages of their lives.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
Verb
Technically, the Singapore Sling is not a tiki drink, but this tropical concoction has wormed its way into the tiki canon.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 26 July 2025
From being the face of a labor action against Hooters as a teen to filming on The Hills years before her own reality TV breakthrough on Vanderpump Rules to partying with Paris Hilton at Les Deux and dating John Mayer, Scheana Shay has wormed her way into every potential site of 2000s nostalgia.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for worm
Cite this Entry
“Worm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worm. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
worm
1 of 2 noun1
a
b
: any of various long creeping or crawling animals (as a grub or tapeworm) that usually have soft bodies
2
: a person who is hated or pitied : wretch
3
plural
: infection with or disease caused by parasitic worms
4
: something in the form of a coil
5
: a usually small self-contained and self-replicating computer program that invades computers on a network and usually performs a destructive action compare trojan horse sense 2, virus sense 3
worm
2 of 2 verb1
: to obtain by cleverness or trickery or by pleading or persuading
wormed the truth out of him
2
: to move, go, or work slowly in the manner of a worm
wormed out of the trap
wormed my way into a job
3
: to rid (as a dog) of parasitic worms
Medical Definition
worm
1 of 2 noun1
: any of various relatively small elongated usually naked and soft-bodied parasitic animals (as of the phylum Platyhelminthes)
2
: helminthiasis
—usually used in plural
a dog with worms
worm
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to treat (an animal) with a drug to destroy or expel parasitic worms
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