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

Relevance

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 After that moment, Ali was able to wriggle his way out of everything Hotch through at him from there. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026 The baby squirrel wriggled, knocked from its forest home in the storm. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for wriggle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wriggle

Verb

Erling Haaland headed City level in the second half, but Jackson got his second and the winner with a first-time finish that squirmed under goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
In the back, tanks bubbled with live lobsters while crawfish squirmed in boxes nearby.

— Sara Rosenthal, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of squirm

Verb

However, a new type of gut-crawling worm being designed by engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), may actually be here to help.

— Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2026
Firefighters bravely crawled past the fire before hoses reached it to pull the five family members out.

— Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of crawl

Verb

When watching the finished film, Howe realized their early life experiences wormed their way into the screenplay, too.

— Angelique Jackson, Variety, 21 Oct. 2026
Over the next several decades, and countless strangulations, Homer and Bart wormed their way into our hearts.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of worm

Verb

Eisenkot is viewed by supporters as a capable leader with sterling security credentials who, along with his likely governing partners, could act as a bulwark against creeping illiberalism.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
LePage’s decision to spend more time in Florida after leaving the governor’s mansion has also crept into the consideration of at least some voters following a drumbeat of attacks by Dunlap.

— David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of creep

Verb

However, even in situations where YCSE might appear ineligible, there is wiggle room that could allow Seyfried to sneak in.

— Nate Jones, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
For a solid thirty minutes, the candidates defended their honor as the race’s most pro-Israel candidate — at times sneaking in jabs about their opponent.

— Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of sneak

Verb

Before long, the barricades lay tossed aside and the tents within went up in smoke, along with Vucic's power.

— JOVANA GEC, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Before long, the barricades lay tossed aside and the tents within went up in smoke, along with Vucic’s power.

— Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of toss

Verb

The pair notices that others can’t make calls, either; a restaurant loses its checkout interface; and everyone is snaking cords around to keep devices charged for the moment when service returns.

— Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Unsurprisingly, the idea of comically long private paths snaking through fragile wetlands so a lucky few can get to their boats wasn’t popular with the public.

— AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of snake

Browse Nearby Words

wretches

wriggle

wriggled

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Style

“Wriggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wriggle. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of wriggle

verb

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