wriggle

verb

ˈri-gəl How to pronounce wriggle (audio)
Definition of wrigglenext
1
as in to squirm
to make jerky or restless movements a toddler wriggling in his seat all throughout the church service

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to crawl
to move slowly with the body close to the ground a worm slowly wriggled across the sidewalk

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to worm
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way within a month of his arrival, this social upstart had wriggled himself into the family's good graces

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of wriggle Reaching out hands to help the suffering, Didi and Gogo go down themselves—all mankind a wriggling heap. — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026 The predator can breathe air, survive out of water and walk (more of a wriggling, snake-like motion) on land for at least four days. — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 9 June 2026 In possession, Sadiki is a balanced ball-carrier who can wriggle past challenges and play quick passes to keep possession ticking. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 June 2026 The technology was largely depicted as a portal to the future, a tonic for the ailing Los Angeles production sector, and a way to finally wriggle free from the bonds of antiquated studio protocols. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 31 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for wriggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wriggle
  1. squirm
  2. crawl
  3. worm
  4. twitch
  5. creep
  6. sneak
  7. toss
  8. snake
Verb
  • But the real pleasure is the 303 basslines that squirm in between the drums, coating the soundscapes of the tracks in grime and noxious soot.
    — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 1 July 2026
  • With the contact patch sliding and squirming, the brakes had less to work with—and the car took just enough extra distance to end in an impact.
    — Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of squirm
Verb
  • The lights off method is a simple means of identifying places in the garage where bugs or rodents might be crawling in.
    — Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 7 July 2026
  • Their father dismounted, went down on foot, climbed the fence his son had crawled under.
    — Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
Definition of crawl
Verb
  • Heath hoped that the agent could worm his way even deeper into Red44.
    — Keith O’Brien, New Yorker, 25 June 2026
  • The flea larvae, which look like tiny maggots, worm their way into the carpet or mattress, feeding on the flea dirt that their parents left behind, says Benson.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
Definition of worm
Verb
  • There is something cultish about that idea — the player who tends not to start but has the knack to appear later on with antennae twitching, ready to seize the day and alter the course of a match.
    — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 21 June 2026
  • Leon Stetson was allegedly twitching, so officers moved him away from Carrie Stetson and started to render medical aid.
    — Kellie Love, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026
Definition of twitch
Verb
  • Sizzling conditions will creep farther east by Monday, reaching the foothills of the Rockies and into more of the Plains.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
  • Throw it on before bed for a creeping loss of temporal traction and wild dreams.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 July 2026
Definition of creep
Verb
  • Butch standing there in his plaid pajamas, sneaking sugar cubes to Rambler and Snowy.
    — Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
  • When grounders sneaked through the infield, his body language was uneventful.
    — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of sneak
Verb
  • In fact, this recipe has the meatballs gently spiced with a dash of cumin and cinnamon, then tossed with a pepperoncini-spiked tomato sauce.
    — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 8 July 2026
  • To make it, toss the shrimp in a simple blend of chili powder and spices, brown them in a skillet and transfer to a plate.
    — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026
Definition of toss
Verb
  • Food trucks reopened after the storm and long lines snaked around the vendor area.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • The New River, which snakes through West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina, may be one of the oldest river systems on earth.
    — Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
Definition of snake

Browse Nearby Words

wretches
wriggle
wriggled
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Cite this Entry

“Wriggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wriggle. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of wriggle for Spanish Speakers

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