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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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of worm
He had not been seen in public since the Hamas attacks and is thought to have been hiding in the vast network of tunnels worming their way under Gaza.
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Pauline Lockwood, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024
Security researchers this week detailed a pernicious malware that worms its way into Linux machines and uses a variety of techniques to evade detection.
—Andrew Couts, WIRED, 12 Oct. 2024
The flea larvae, which look like tiny maggots, worm their way into the carpet or mattress, feeding on the flea dirt that their parents left behind, says Benson.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2024
Unsurprisingly, then, my feed has been full of videos detailing lip filler that had wormed its way up to the philtrum (the groove in the upper lip) or, as in TikTok user Alissa aka @alissainthecity's case, gone even further.
—Charlotte Bitmead, refinery29.com, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for worm 
Pauline Lockwood, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024
Security researchers this week detailed a pernicious malware that worms its way into Linux machines and uses a variety of techniques to evade detection.
—Andrew Couts, WIRED, 12 Oct. 2024
The flea larvae, which look like tiny maggots, worm their way into the carpet or mattress, feeding on the flea dirt that their parents left behind, says Benson.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2024
Unsurprisingly, then, my feed has been full of videos detailing lip filler that had wormed its way up to the philtrum (the groove in the upper lip) or, as in TikTok user Alissa aka @alissainthecity's case, gone even further.
—Charlotte Bitmead, refinery29.com, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for worm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worm
Verb
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But there's also a fear that drones can encroach upon personal privacy.Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 16 Dec. 2024
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For the financial industry, the specter of companies like Walmart encroaching on their turf has loomed large.Sridhar Natarajanand Jaewon Kang Bloomberg News (WPNS), arkansasonline.com, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Radical nationalists have infiltrated the country’s police and politics.Anna Nemtsova, The Atlantic, 27 Dec. 2024
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In some cases, viruses travel via nerve endings to attack the nervous system or infiltrate major organs, further complicating the host's ability to fight the infection.Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In another, taken today, long lines of travelers snake around Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
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Out a speeding car window, drivers catch glimpses of a concrete, bridge-like structure that snakes its way for miles through the heart of the state’s Central Valley that produces most of the country’s fresh fruits and vegetables.Amy Feldman, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Obviously, inserting you helps with the defensive end.Jovan Buha, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
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In Netanyahu’s case, because the prostate is not cancerous, Golan said doctors were likely performing an endoscopic surgery, carried out by inserting small instruments into a body cavity, rather than making surgical cuts in the abdomen to reach the prostate.Tia Goldenberg, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Like many other politicians who once opposed Trump, DeSantis crawled to Mar-a-Lago on hands and knees to beg forgiveness after flaming out against Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries.Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Dec. 2024
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Ameer Abdullah and Dylan Laube are the next healthy options on the depth chart as the Raiders crawl to the finish line of a horrid 2-11 season.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
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That might be a welcome reprieve for those of us who are usually glum during the holidays (just me?), but the blues can sneak up on anyone.Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 Dec. 2024
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Dali stowed away in the airplane's lavatory According to a criminal complaint filed on Dec. 5, Dali reportedly snuck aboard Delta Air Lines flight 264 at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport bound for Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris on Nov. 26.Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Meanwhile, the Christmas classics are creeping back into the mix as the holidays approach.Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 17 Dec. 2024
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Other persistent inflation drivers, such as auto repairs and car insurance, also crept up modestly in November.Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Just slip this over the interior door’s peephole and rest assured knowing that no one can use a device to see in.Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 22 Dec. 2024
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Tokyo's Nikkei 225 slipped 0.3 percent to close at 38,701.90 on Friday following the release of November inflation data.Gord Magill, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Worm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worm. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
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