Synonyms for

Worms

Verb / wɜ:mz / Another word for worms — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Worms are long, thin animals without bones that live in soil. They help to break down dead plants and make the soil better for growing plants.

Synonyms & similar words

writhe worm twist insect dirtball wriggle louse wrestle squirm earthworms nightcrawlers maggots larvae grubs insects creatures critters vermin pests parasites nematodes annelids bait fishing baitfish angleworms bloodworms mealworms

Synonyms by register

Formal

annelids vermiforms larvae

Informal

grubs maggots crawlies

Literary

serpents wyrms

Antonyms

animals insects mammals birds reptiles fish

Common collocations

  • earthworms
  • fishing worms
  • worm farm
  • worm castings
  • worm bin
  • blind as a worm
  • worm out of

Word family

noun worm
verb worm
adjective wormy

Usage note

The word 'worms' can refer to the phylum Annelida, or more generally to larval insects or other elongated, soft-bodied creatures. It can also be used figuratively to describe someone contemptible or a feeling of unease.

Example sentences

  1. The robin pulled a worm out of the ground.
  2. I saw a worm on the sidewalk after the rain.
  3. Worms are good for the soil.
  4. My dad uses worms as bait when he goes fishing.
  5. I don't like the way worms feel in my hand.

Quotes

  • "The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese." - Steven Wright
  • "I am the worm who never turned, the eunuch without a harem; Between the priest and the commissar, I walk like Eugene Aram; And the commissar is telling my fortune while the radio plays," - W.H. Auden
  • "I am a worm, but I am a glowworm." - Winston Churchill

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