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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
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.
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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
The story centers around Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) a murderous con artist who worms his way into the life of the wealthy Dickey Greenleaf (Jude Law) and Dickey's girlfriend Marge Sherwood (Gwyneth Paltrow).
—Eric Andersson, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2024
That said, as great as Olivia Colman is in The Favourite, technically speaking Emma Stone’s character, the conniving Abigail, is the real main character, driving the action forward and worming her way into the Queen’s heart (and bed).
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for worm 
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
The story centers around Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) a murderous con artist who worms his way into the life of the wealthy Dickey Greenleaf (Jude Law) and Dickey's girlfriend Marge Sherwood (Gwyneth Paltrow).
—Eric Andersson, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2024
That said, as great as Olivia Colman is in The Favourite, technically speaking Emma Stone’s character, the conniving Abigail, is the real main character, driving the action forward and worming her way into the Queen’s heart (and bed).
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for worm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worm
Verb
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Deputies lifted those who could not walk into police cars and drove quickly away from encroaching fire just coming into view over small hills.Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
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Fears of mainland-style surveillance and policing caused notable angst during the 2019 protests, which broadened to encompass many Hong Kongers’ fears that the central Chinese government would encroach on the city’s limited autonomy.Jessie Yeung, CNN, 5 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Social media, and the multitude of trends that infiltrate the average teen’s feeds, may disrupt the formation of a healthy self-esteem by feeding them information that damages their self-image.Sherri Gordon, CLC, Parents, 29 Nov. 2024
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Keeping the salt line downstream is especially important because there is not ample infrastructure in the region for desalinization to be a viable option if the salt line were to infiltrate the drinking water system in the near future, Shallcross said.Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 27 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The precinct at Day Springs Community Church off Orange Blossom Trail drew a crowd that snaked outside the building.James Wilkins, Orlando Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2024
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Most poignant is the way addiction snakes through family history.Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
Verb
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After making a centimeter-long incision under the chin and, in some cases, two additional poke holes, one behind each earlobe, doctors insert a steel cannula to break up and suction out excess fat.Jolene Edgar, Allure, 20 Nov. 2024
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The wine case inserts—designed to cushion Silver Oak bottles in transit—are manufactured from recycled, non-toxic foam in Wisconsin.Rachel King, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Cozy Earth Soft Woven Long-sleeve Pajama Set There are few better feelings than crawling into bed in a fresh set of Cozy Earth pajamas.Sophie Mendel, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2024
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But the ordeal left much of Manhattan’s West Side stuck on Wednesday, with Nos. 1, 2 and 3 trains crawling up the island, making local stops.Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 27 Nov. 2024
Verb
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While his family makes dinner and festive snacks, the young boy sneaks food and brings a dish to his neighbor's doorstep.Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 13 Nov. 2024
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Devin Williams received back-to-back sentences of 25 years to life in prison for the fatal shootings of Maria and Benison Tran, who were shot at near point-blank range after Williams snuck into their Dublin home and confronted them in a fit of jealous rage.Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Black Friday 2024 continues to creep closer, and the latest sale was announced by PlayStation through the PlayStation Blog Wednesday morning.John Tufts, The Courier-Journal, 21 Nov. 2024
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As members returned to session this week, snapshots of this opposition crept up in GOP leadership fights, Trump’s closed-door meeting with Republican House members and his picks for cabinet roles, giving a preview of what the next few years could look like.Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, 16 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Plus, unlike loafers that have zippers, ties, and buckles, these are a breeze to slip on.Jamie Fischer, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2024
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In a week that controversy surrounding Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story was generating headlines aplenty for Netflix, an old British show quietly slipped into the streamer’s UK top 10, neatly demonstrating something of a 2024 viewing trend.Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Worm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worm. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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