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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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 In terms of the complex set design — which looks like a facsimile of the same passage over and over but with subtle differences worming their way in — Kawamura and his team built two identical corridors for cinematographer Keisuke Imamura to follow the actors through, third- and first-person-style. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026 With the ability to worm its way through sensitive developer pipelines and machines, CanisterWorm represents a serious escalation of the TeamPCP’s campaign to steal as many credentials as possible. Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 24 Mar. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for worm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worm
Verb
  • As convenience store formats encroach on grocery and superstore territory in both size and assortment, chains need to consider how to maximize their popularity without creating excessive additional competition.
    Kevin Williams, CNBC, 2 July 2026
  • Ditching a 90-year-old decision, the court said restrictions Congress placed on a president’s ability to remove members of independent agencies like the Federal Trade Commission encroached on presidential power.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • The Ukrainian military said Saturday that small groups of Russian soldiers had infiltrated the town, but counter-sabotage operations were ongoing.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
  • Is there a level of insanity, vitriol and stupidity that is infiltrating almost every aspect of our modern society, regardless of your political or religious views?
    Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • Food trucks reopened after the storm and long lines snaked around the vendor area.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • The New River, which snakes through West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina, may be one of the oldest river systems on earth.
    Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • Itanare, Flores and Luis Freites Arvilla would then take turns appearing to approach the ATM, insert a card and enter a PIN, withdraw cash, and then repeat the process.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Grill, uncovered, turning often, until charred in spots and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of thighs and/or drumsticks registers 160°, about 5 minutes more.
    Inés Anguiano, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • So, while the Dodgers crawled out of the hole with a season-high 17 hits, the steep cost heightens the pressure on the rest of the rotation the rest of the series.
    Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • The Germans were crawling as far as the street, dashing across the asphalt, then leaping into the second trench.
    Vasily Grossman, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Koorimannil managed to sneak out a screenshot from his computer that AP and security nonprofit C4ADS used to identify the key to his productivity — a software platform called Kongtian Intelligent Customer Acquisition, or KT for short.
    ABC News, ABC News, 30 June 2026
  • In just its fourth World Cup appearance, Norway has the chance to sneak into the Round of 16 for the third time.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Leaders should identify where bottlenecks crept back in, restore psychological safety around small failures, and rebuild the feedback loops that make frequent, low-risk deployment feel sustainable.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Asked Monday what the best part about being back has been so far, a big smile crept across Watkins’ face.
    Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • The styles incorporate features typically found in work shoes, including nano toe, steel toe, waterproof, electrical hazard protection, slip resistant outsoles and quick draw laces.
    Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 30 June 2026
  • Circle’s stock slipped 13% after the announcement and now trades at $66 per share.
    Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 30 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Worm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worm. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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