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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of worm
The plot might seem repetitive, going back and forth between Violet trying to follow the anonymous rules and worming her way out of them to seek help (only to be outsmarted), but the movie’s exciting, stage-like formal flourishes and its disorienting lensing keep things moving smoothly.
—
Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 10 Mar. 2025
Chain Reactions Director: Alexandre O. Philippe Featuring: Patton Oswalt, Takashi Miike, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Stephen King, Karyn Kusama
United States, 2024
For fifty years, Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has terrified audiences by worming its way into their subconscious.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2025
In recent years, inclusion mandates and training have wormed their way into virtually every facet of American life, including (but certainly not limited to) Hollywood, corporations and academia, just to name a few of the most prominent targets.
—Matt K. Lewis, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2025
While all this is going on, Chloe begins secretly hanging out and hooking up with Tyler's friend Ryan (West Mulholland), a sinister jock who worms his way into her good graces as a shoulder to cry on.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for worm
Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 10 Mar. 2025
Chain Reactions Director: Alexandre O. Philippe Featuring: Patton Oswalt, Takashi Miike, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Stephen King, Karyn Kusama
United States, 2024
For fifty years, Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has terrified audiences by worming its way into their subconscious.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2025
In recent years, inclusion mandates and training have wormed their way into virtually every facet of American life, including (but certainly not limited to) Hollywood, corporations and academia, just to name a few of the most prominent targets.
—Matt K. Lewis, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2025
While all this is going on, Chloe begins secretly hanging out and hooking up with Tyler's friend Ryan (West Mulholland), a sinister jock who worms his way into her good graces as a shoulder to cry on.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for worm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worm
Verb
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The gangs are quickly encroaching into strategic neighborhoods where key telecom and electricity installations are at risk of a takeover.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
25 Apr. 2025
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Telecommunications leaders have acknowledged that their cable partners are increasingly encroaching on their territory, but none express concern.—
Russell Leung,Lillian Rizzo,
CNBC,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Monkey Man told of a man who infiltrates a night club in order to exact vengeance on the man who killed his mother years earlier.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
10 May 2025
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Under Trump’s direction, Musk’s workers had already infiltrated much of the federal government in a lightning operation designed to overwhelm.—
Michael Wilner,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Weber’s Little Donut Shop The line snaking around the block at 5 a.m. is a good indication Weber’s Little Donut Shop is a must-visit.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
6 May 2025
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Even when the narrow road snaked over the steepest gradients in the final stretch his confidence never faltered.—
Nathaniel Parish Flannery,
Forbes.com,
5 May 2025
Verb
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To explain this apparent contradiction, the team theorized that the material was likely inserted through the rectum.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
2 May 2025
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The team inserted this enzyme into Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, a common member of the human gut microbiome.—
Jenny Lehmann,
Discover Magazine,
2 May 2025
Verb
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When the window broke, the bear crawled out safely and returned to the woods.—
Shyla Watson,
People.com,
10 May 2025
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Inspectors saw one rat crawling from the top equipment shelf in an unapproved back dry storage area onto the roof, and another rat on an electrical line behind a two-door household freezer/refrigerator in the same dry storage area.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado,
Sacbee.com,
9 May 2025
Verb
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Another man was banned from Disney World earlier this week after allegedly attempting to sneak a wallet full of cocaine into the Magic Kingdom, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
2 May 2025
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The charges, filed March 18 in New York federal court, accuse O’Reilly of working with others to sneak people into the United States.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
1 May 2025
Verb
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Corporate executives don’t want to destroy morale; government agencies must retain reserve; and those of us in the job market – coaches, recruiters, staffers, etc. – must not let pessimism creep in.—
Eli Amdur,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
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But a few prices are starting to creep up, most notably the graphics card.—
Emily Forlini,
PC Magazine,
2 May 2025
Verb
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The sandals also boast adjustable straps, a breathable faux leather upper, comfy real suede insoles, and an EVA outsole that offers plenty of traction and stability to prevent slipping.—
Carly Totten,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2025
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The future Queen Elizabeth and her younger sister Princess Margaret famously slipped into the crowd to celebrate on VE Day, short for Victory in Europe Day.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Worm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worm. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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