as in to fidget
to make jerky or restless movements
the toddler squirmed the whole time we were in the waiting room
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in squirming
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of squirm
Christa Sgobba, SELF, 4 June 2025
His wire-to-wire tenacity made Benet squirm until the final split-second had ticked off the clock.
—Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025
But Carney squirmed a bit as Trump riffed on his contentious plan for the U.S. to gobble up Canada.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 6 May 2025
The cardinals are sworn to secrecy, though a few details have inevitably squirmed outside through the chapel walls over the years.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for squirm
Noun
This can prepare your body to safely move things without straining your spine, whether that be a bag of yard clippings, a squirming child, or a box of books.
—Christa Sgobba, SELF, 4 June 2025
His wire-to-wire tenacity made Benet squirm until the final split-second had ticked off the clock.
—Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025
But Carney squirmed a bit as Trump riffed on his contentious plan for the U.S. to gobble up Canada.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 6 May 2025
The cardinals are sworn to secrecy, though a few details have inevitably squirmed outside through the chapel walls over the years.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for squirm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squirm
Verb
-
For weeks, Combs, 55, has maintained an attentive and easygoing presence inside a Manhattan federal courtroom — occasionally shaking his head, fidgeting in his seat or passing notes to his attorneys.—
Danielle Bacher,
People.com,
18 June 2025
-
Part of identifying suspicious travelers relies on noticing behaviors such as fidgeting or having a penetrating stare, which government watchdogs and some lawmakers have criticized in the past as an unreliable basis for probable cause.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
The fearful pup stepped out to greet her, his tail twitching—his first show of trust in a long time.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 July 2025
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So instead, designers tweaked certain details, like twitching nerves under his skin and the iridescence in his scales.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
Verb
-
They’re rolled across bathroom floors, stored in public bins at TSA checkpoints, and tossed into airplane cargo holds.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 June 2025
-
For weeks, social media has been flooded with videos of federal agents, their faces often shrouded by masks, violently arresting bystanders who are filming their actions, dragging a taco stand vendor by her arm and tossing smoke bombs into a crowd of angry onlookers.—
Libor Jany,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
Verb
-
Centre Court looked naked without line judges, but Fognini’s presence and touch filled the void and jerked the joie de vivre out of Alcaraz’s racket.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
Patrick Walle’s horn solo up top sounded suspended in time, before an increasingly feral orchestra jerked us back to street level.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2025
Verb
-
For 48 hours, Woodhouse couldn't even wiggle a toe and was completely paralyzed on the right side.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 July 2025
-
McClure heard the sounds of the crying deer, then wiggled the fawn from the fence to reunite it with its mother, the video shows.—
Mike Stunson
July 3,
Kansas City Star,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
Life’s hard enough, and if facial fiddling is music to your ears, have at it.—
Valerie Monroe,
Allure,
21 Feb. 2025
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The fiddling pays off when the fresh herb vinaigrette dresses a mix of Iceberg lettuce and one of the mixed greens combos sold in the marketplace.—
Cathy Thomas,
Orange County Register,
13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The zombie hordes, meanwhile, exist for Spike to make his first kill, starting with the fat, bloated ones that writhe around on the forest floor and seem to survive on worms.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
18 June 2025
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Some writhed in pain while others worried about their friends who were burned worse.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
3 June 2025
Verb
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Wires were seen submerged in pooling water across the floor and high winds made the floor and walls of the facility’s tents tremble, reporter video from CNN affiliate Spectrum News 13 showed.—
Devon M. Sayers,
CNN Money,
3 July 2025
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The sound is electronic and rhythmically driven; the singing trembles with desire and confusion.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Squirm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squirm. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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