wriggle

wriggle

verb

Definition of WRIGGLE

1

to make jerky or restless movements <a toddler wriggling in his seat all throughout the church service>

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

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

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

2

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

Synonyms belly, creep, grovel, slide, slither, snake, worm, wriggle

Related Words crouch, squat; edge, inch, nose; skulk, sneak, steal, tiptoe

3

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 infiltrate, slip, sneak, wind, work in, worm, wriggle

Related Words creep, edge, wiggle; insert, interpolate, interpose, introduce