worming

present participle of worm
1
as in encroaching
to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits neighborhoods worming into lands reserved for wildlife

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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

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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

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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 worming After a series of personal setbacks, Ingrid moves to Los Angeles to be closer to Taylor, masterminding their meeting and worming her way into her inner circle. Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026 The best success comes using it in jungle-thick cover, worming a minnow down between uncooperative branches. John Phillips, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026 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 Clara ends up moving to the small town and worming her way into everyone’s hearts. Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025 Traitors is worming its way in there. Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worming
Verb
  • Desperate struggles against the encroaching elements become a brief interlude before the situation unravels into a disaster of a different magnitude.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026
  • While the planet is actually quite bright, its proximity to the sun means there is a small window to view it before encroaching daylight washes it out.
    Michael d'Estries, Travel + Leisure, 29 July 2026
Verb
  • The fact that each tally mark was a dollar in the band’s pocket, and that sneaking in was essentially stealing money from them, also didn’t faze us.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Acknowledge your child’s feelings, then follow through with your goodbye instead of sneaking away.
    Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Inflation creeping higher The extreme heat compounds an expensive summer for Europe, where the war has already pushed up energy costs.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
  • There’s a growing split between jobs where pay is jumping and jobs where raises are creeping along.
    Jason St. Angelo, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Although the cybersecurity industry has been warning about North Korean IT workers infiltrating jobs for years now, the threat continues to persist.
    Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Biological males are infiltrating girls' sports, specifically at the youth and high school level, at remarkably high levels.
    Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Tests on Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, Unitree’s G1 and Boston Dynamics’ Spot showed the robots could perform crawling, cartwheels, handstands, soccer kicks and other complex movements across different robotic body types.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile in Broward County, a restaurant had two dozen live roaches inside the dishwasher, under a food warmer and chest freezer, and crawling on a wall.
    Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images In late July, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang posted on X for the first time to defend open-source models in artificial intelligence, inserting himself into a debate that was raging across the industry.
    Kif Leswing, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Adding to the mix is the subtext of an Administration that revels in inserting itself into any business deal and the ongoing story of the efforts of a politically friendly billionaire trying to close the deal.
    Rick Ellis, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Previously centered on Nashville and central Tennessee, the district now extends to the northwest corner of the state before snaking south along the Mississippi River to Memphis.
    ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • After Haystack Pass—one of the trail’s most significant ascents—the Highline continues, snaking across open valleys, offering nearly uninterrupted views before reaching the Granite Park Chalet.
    Taryn Shorr-Mckee, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The blockbuster pop release climbs on five of those six rankings, slipping only on the Official Albums Streaming tally.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • More drones and missiles are slipping through both sides’ fraying air defenses, meaning that the civilian death toll has increased, and more critical infrastructure is being damaged.
    Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Worming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worming. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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