infiltrating
Entering by stealth
Infiltrating is entering gradually or secretly, usually to gather information or gain influence from within.
Spies infiltrate enemy organizations; water infiltrates soil.
The word implies penetration that goes unnoticed: Government agents were infiltrating the protest group.
Cancer cells infiltrate healthy tissue.
Ideas can infiltrate a culture.
Spread through entirely
- seepFlow slowly through
- breachBreaking of agreement
- enterPass into a space
- pervadeSpread throughout completely
diffuse · saturate · osmose · absorb · imbue · spread · leach · percolate
Stealthy, slow movement
tiptoe · furtive · undetected · shadow · ghost · slither · lurk · stalk
Covert information gatherer
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- molesBurrowing insectivore mammals
operative · agent · intelligence · surveillance · reconnaissance · sabotage · counterintelligence · handler
Not immediately obvious
- insidiousSubtly destructive over time
- creepingMoving slowly, stealthily
- slowLacking in speed
- incrementalProceeding by small additions
encroaching · insinuating · unobtrusive · imperceptible · stealthy · quiet · systematic · methodical
permeate
Spread through entirely
pervade · diffuse · saturate · osmose · absorb · imbue · spread · leach · percolate · migrate
creep
Stealthy, slow movement
prowl · tiptoe · furtive · undetected · shadow · ghost · slither · lurk · stalk · unnoticed
spy
Covert information gatherer
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
moles · operative · agent · intelligence · surveillance · reconnaissance · sabotage · counterintelligence · handler · asset
subtle
Not immediately obvious
incremental · encroaching · insinuating · unobtrusive · imperceptible · stealthy · quiet · systematic · methodical · patient
insider
One with confidential access
compromise · subvert · corrupt · recruit · influence · position · entrust · cultivate · exploit · leverage
- stealthsneak, ninja, creep, spy, skulk
- contaminationpolluting, contaminating, fouling, tainting, poisoning
- piercingpierce, piercing, puncture, puncturing, stab
- parasitismbloodsucking, leeching, exploiting, nest parasitism, infecting
- surveillancesurveillance, CCTV, security camera, surveillance camera, surveillance cameras
- tumorstumor, cancer, benign tumor, malignant tumor, carcinoma
infiltratingstorming
Attacking with force
charging · barging in · knocking · raiding · frontal assault
infiltratingwithdrawing
Removing or pulling away
retreating · evacuating · pulling out · exfiltrating · fleeing
infiltratingdefecting
Abandoning a cause
abandoning · deserting · resigning · quitting · exposing oneself
- infiltration basinsDepressions allowing water percolation
- water infiltrationLiquid passing through materials