1
as in encroached
to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits
neighborhoods worming into lands reserved for wildlife
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in infiltrated
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 wormed
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
We as a community contain (often brain-wormed) multitudes, as evidenced by this year’s plethora gay Halloween costumes.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 31 Oct. 2025
After a scramble from Baltimore’s corner kick, Kerr’s header at the back post wormed through a thicket of defenders, and Cuthbert had the final touch.
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
This story has wormed its way into all levels of British cultural output.
—Will Collins, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026
We as a community contain (often brain-wormed) multitudes, as evidenced by this year’s plethora gay Halloween costumes.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 31 Oct. 2025
After a scramble from Baltimore’s corner kick, Kerr’s header at the back post wormed through a thicket of defenders, and Cuthbert had the final touch.
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
This story has wormed its way into all levels of British cultural output.
—Will Collins, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wormed
Verb
-
For Andy Lester, chair of the Oklahoma Free Speech Committee, Harrington’s order encroached on the First Amendment.—
JC Hallman,
Oklahoma Watch,
22 Mar. 2026
-
In the last few decades, the bug has encroached from Utah’s Virgin River into prime flycatcher habitat in northern Arizona.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In 2024 Israeli operatives infiltrated Hezbollah’s supply chain and used shell companies to sell members pagers and walkie-talkies rigged with explosives.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
26 Mar. 2026
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Chavez and his aides repeatedly claimed that their critics are Communist or grower sympathizers who infiltrated the UFW before turning on it.—
Marcos Breton,
Sacbee.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Over recent decades, the average retirement age has crept steadily up.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
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Less than a month after Mark Zuckerberg made a fashion week cameo on Prada’s front row in Milan, Meta has crept back into the fashion conversation.—
Amy O’Brien,
Vogue,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
To keep the airway open while the dog's face heals, Peanut had a small tube inserted into his nostril.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The Justice Department inserted itself into Peters' bid to be released while her state appeal was considered.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Woods was alone in the car and crawled out of the passenger door after the crash.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2026
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The man who crawled out of that chest would shape how nations justify power for centuries to come.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The story began on March 24, when a hiker slipped and fell from a 180-foot waterfall in wild New Zealand bush.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
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And, as prices slipped below key levels like $5,000, selling pressure picked up quickly, driven less by a major change in fundamentals and more by positioning.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The consequent disruptions ground some airports to a near-halt, while others contended with security lines that snaked out into parking lots and lasted upward of four hours.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
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Wait times have exceeded three hours in some locations — longer than some of the flights those airports offered — as lines have snaked through terminals and outside of airports.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This era of college basketball — the NIL and portal combination — has either robbed Self of his greatest strength or at least sneaked a few pennies from the community tray.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
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Long Beach and Bakersfield snuck in to the top 20 with Sacramento, taking the 16th and 17th spots respectively.—
Jason Pierce,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wormed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wormed. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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