worms

verb

Definition of wormsnext
present tense third-person singular of worm
1
as in encroaches
to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits neighborhoods worming into lands reserved for wildlife

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in infiltrates
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 snakes
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

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 worms 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 Guiteau eventually worms his way into an audience, ostensibly seeking an ambassadorship for his dubious contributions to the campaign but, in reality, requesting a path to greatness. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worms
  1. encroaches
  2. infiltrates
  3. snakes
  4. sneaks
  5. crawls
  6. inserts
  7. creeps
  8. slips
Verb
  • The case also determined that the neighbor has the right to trim any greenery that encroaches onto their property.
    — Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
  • As long as nothing encroaches on their territories, these mega-caps can continue to invent and profit with their core businesses generating consistent gains.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 28 June 2026
Definition of encroaches
Verb
  • When an outsider infiltrates the family, buried tensions surface and blood ties are severed.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 24 July 2026
  • Yet up here hardly a sound infiltrates the noble trees that surround the estate.
    — Nielsen Dinwoodie, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of infiltrates
Verb
  • The new district snakes up through Kansas City’s urban core, in an attempt to create a district more favorable for Republicans in the 5th District.
    — Jack Harvel July 28, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026
  • The story of McCarthy’s life was written on this winding street that snakes through a small, working-class corner of Pittsburgh where the Monongahela River bends.
    — Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of snakes
Verb
  • The target hides in a food truck, gets on another plane, flies to England, hides on another food truck and sneaks back on Air Force One.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The film cannily tugs on the heartstrings, pulls off classic slapstick comedy and sneaks obscure film references into its visuals.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of sneaks
Verb
  • Hairy-nosed wombat births are hard to spot, as after about a 30-day pregnancy, the joey crawls into its mother’s pouch.
    — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Researchers have developed a new control framework that enables humanoid robots to perform agile movements, including army crawls, breakdancing and backflips.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of crawls
Verb
  • The Relic chip, of course, is the impetus for the main storyline of Cyberpunk 2077, where V inserts the experimental tech that contains the soul, in effect, of a real person.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • In honor of that legacy, Michelson often inserts Indigenous sovereignty into historically fraught public spaces.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of inserts
Verb
  • With those sessions behind the team, the season creeps closer.
    — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The polarizing quarterback will start Cleveland's exhibition opener at Chicago on Saturday — his first game action since 2024 — and Shedeur Sanders will play in the second half as the Browns' QB competition creeps toward a conclusion.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of creeps
Verb
  • That uncertainty extends to the film itself, which slips between psychological drama, comedy and magical realism without settling comfortably into any of them.
    — Callum McLennan, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The National Safety Council notes that slips, trips, and falls are highly preventable when hazards are clearly identified, which makes independent witness statements about the floor’s condition especially useful.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of slips

Browse Nearby Words

worming
worms
worm snake
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Worms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worms. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of worms for Spanish Speakers

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