WRIGGLE Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

wriggle

verb

ˈri-gəl

Definition of wriggle

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

as in to crawl

to move slowly with the body close to the ground a worm slowly wriggled across the sidewalk

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 The overwhelming success of Season 1 gave the executive producers wriggle room for Season 2. — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026 The toddler has already slid halfway down her mother’s lap, her small torso thrown back, using her foot as leverage to wriggle free. — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026 Soren Stevenson was filming his brother-in-law surfing at Newport Beach, California, the morning of Saturday, July 25 when the white shark jumped out of the water behind him and appeared to wriggle before diving back in. — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 29 July 2026 Mikel Oyarzabal attempted to wriggle free of Lisandro Martinez to launch a counter-attack, but Martinez wasn’t having any of that. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for wriggle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wriggle

Verb

Where Raphael’s infant Christ is plump, acquiescent, docile, Cassatt’s children squirm, resist, and ignore authority.

— Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026
Its defenders will have to do better than making Infantino squirm.

— Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of squirm

Verb

Suki, who had been with her new family only a few weeks, had crawled into an opening in an entertainment center cabinet and could not get out.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
And the weirdness of the blue, blue sky above, while hundreds of men crawl around like ants on the rubble.

— Jeff Goodell, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of crawl

Verb

Over the next several decades, and countless strangulations, Homer and Bart wormed their way into our hearts.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2026
The idea wormed its way through the State Fair machinery, and with a month and a half to go until gates opened, EatFuti heard they’d be allowed to test a pilot program.

— Courtney Crowder, Des Moines Register, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of worm

Verb

The 5-11, 210-pounder is a sudden cutter who runs with power and twitch, attacking space like a great punt returner.

— Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
The muscles in Lola Petticrew’s face twitch ever so slightly, indicating Catherine’s excitement that the police are now in possession of this picture.

— Erin Qualey, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of twitch

Verb

Something like hope crept toward me when my oncologist was vulnerable about her own health.

— David Elkowitz, STAT, 16 Sep. 2026
This is happening as emergency room visits for COVID-like illness creep upward in nearly every part of the state, according to the NC Division of Public Health.

— Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of creep

Verb

Every round, the players put on googly-eyed glasses that obscure their vision while Sam sneaks over to tap a Spy, who removes their glasses so Sam can point out which object fits the prompt.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026
To be clear, many of these live recordings are sourced from fans who snuck cassette recorders into concert halls.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of sneak

Verb

The arrival of a cadre of veteran playmakers tossed into the mix in Cincinnati was here and, consequently, the reason the Bengals won.

— Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Legal issues in speech and removal from game Central to the dispute is whether the Sky had sufficient grounds to toss Kanter.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of toss

Verb

And the talk drew far and away the longest lines of the festival, snaking around four city blocks an hour before showtime.

— Marlow Stern, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026
The crew use three tiers of flame bars behind Howell to spark the inferno that will snake through prom, fueled by the growing intensity of Carrie’s powers.

— Entertainment Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of snake

Browse Nearby Words

wretches

wriggle

wriggled

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Wriggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wriggle. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of wriggle

verb

Example Sentences

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