1
as in encroaching
to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits
neighborhoods worming into lands reserved for wildlife
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in sneaking
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
3
as in creeping
to move slowly with the body close to the ground
the cat silently wormed along the ground as it snuck up on the bird
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of worming
Clara ends up moving to the small town and worming her way into everyone’s hearts.
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Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worming
Verb
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Nobody wants to deal with our old devil, even if the new one comes with an encroaching open threat actively bubbling in the Caribbean and Latin America at large.—
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Gamers aren’t exactly optimistic about AI encroaching on the experience, especially amid deep confusion over how exactly developers and studios are looking to leverage the tech.—
Verb
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That's fine by Rodgers, who knows a thing or two about sneaking in the playoffs and going on a run.—
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Harry proposed 10 months later in November 2017, and the couple spent their first Sandringham Christmas together the next month before sneaking away to the French Riviera for New Year’s 2018.—
Verb
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Grow as a creeping vine or along a trellis.—
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What’s that warmth creeping over you?—
Verb
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Hannah cares for a charming high school athlete while working with Charlie to cover their tracks by infiltrating the hospital computer system.—
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As early as 2019, Fuentes spoke to his followers about infiltrating the right by blending in with the rest of the GOP.—
Verb
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Now, Letts has brought Coon back to Broadway with the Main Stem debut of his 1996 play Bug, a skin-crawling portrayal of people on the fringes.—
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Here, there's a skin-crawling effect to watching the story unfold onstage.—
Verb
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But even those who use TA say there’s something odd about inserting English letters in a sentence of Chinese characters.—
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The Justice Department argued that the judge had overstepped his authority by inserting himself into questions of foreign policy.—
Verb
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Commuters who were snaking along the 405 freeway in Southern California on Wednesday morning caught an unusual sight.—
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The long, snaking lines of people queueing to apply suggest that half the country is in a similar position to Ben, struggling to provide for their families.—
Verb
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Cizikas scored a short-handed goal to tie it 3-3 late in the second period, completing a 2-on-1 rush with Holmstrom by slipping the puck between Gustavsson's pads.—
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To keep a tension rod from slipping, look for rods that have rubber stoppers on the ends or that come with sticky wall brackets.—
Cite this Entry
“Worming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worming. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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