wriggle

¹wrig·gle

verb \ˈri-gəl\

wrig·gledwrig·gling\-g(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of WRIGGLE

intransitive verb

1

: to move the body or a bodily part to and fro with short writhing motions like a worm : squirm

2

: to move or advance by twisting and turning

3

: to extricate or insinuate oneself or reach a goal as if by wriggling

transitive verb

1

: to cause to move in short quick contortions

2

: to introduce, insinuate, or bring into a state or place by or as if by wriggling

— wrig·gly \-g(ə-)lē\ adjective

Examples of WRIGGLE

1. The children wriggled and squirmed in their chairs.
2. She managed to wriggle free of her ropes.
3. They wriggled out of their wet clothes.
4. I had trouble getting the wriggling fish off my hook.
5. The snake wriggled across the path and went underneath a bush.
6. He was able to wriggle through the narrow opening.

Origin of WRIGGLE

Middle English, from or akin to Middle Low German wriggeln to wriggle; akin to Old English wrigian to turn — more at wry

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to WRIGGLE

Synonyms: fiddle, jerk, jig, jiggle, squiggle, squirm, thrash, thresh, toss, twist, twitch, wiggle, fidget, writhe

Related Words: flit, flutter, twitter; quake, quiver, shake, shiver, shudder, tremble; pace

Near Antonyms: relax, rest, unwind; calm (down), still

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with WRIGGLE

giggle, higgle, jiggle, niggle, sniggle, squiggle, wiggle