worming

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for worming
  1. creeping
  2. infiltrating
  3. inserting
  4. slipping
  5. winding
Verb
  • Invasive plants also spread quickly in multiple ways, such as by seeds, creeping stems and roots, or fruits eaten by birds and dropped elsewhere.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2025
  • Another sign of creeping fatigue?
    Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
Definition of creeping
Verb
  • These are much more favorable matchups because the Rams and Buccaneers are not as good as the Eagles and because Packers fans might have an easier time infiltrating SoFi Stadium or Raymond James Stadium.
    Adam Gretz, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
  • His order cites congressional and counterintelligence reports outlining threats posed by the PRC, CCP, and other foreign adversaries, including Chinese spies allegedly infiltrating the New York governor’s office.
    Bethany Blankley | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Dec. 2024
Definition of infiltrating
Verb
  • Many focused on inserting individual flowers into small tubes filled with water and then neatly placing each vial, one by one, onto the floats.
    Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC News, 31 Dec. 2024
  • 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
Definition of inserting
Verb
  • Harrison took Georgia’s second-half kickoff all the way to the end zone, slipping a tackle near the middle of the field, cutting toward the right sideline and outrunning everyone.
    Brett Martel, The Denver Post, 2 Jan. 2025
  • Richardson failed at the first one; nailed the second, and was slipping on #3.
    Scott Powers, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Definition of slipping
Verb
  • While most of Tyre’s 125,000 residents fled during the war, the city’s Christian quarter, nestled alongside the harbor with its winding alleyways, was one of the few neighborhoods where some people remained.
    Euan Ward, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2024
  • For those who find stairs challenging, there’s a winding dirt path that will also take you to the top.
    Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
Definition of winding
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near worming

wormholes

worming

worms

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Worming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worming. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on worming

Nglish: Translation of worming for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of worming for Arabic Speakers

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