wriggle

1 of 2

verb

wrig·​gle ˈri-gəl 

wriggled; wriggling ˈri-g(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to move the body or a bodily part to and fro with short writhing motions like a worm : squirm

2

: to move or advance by twisting and turning

3

: to extricate or insinuate oneself or reach a goal as if by wriggling

transitive verb

1

: to cause to move in short quick contortions

2

: to introduce, insinuate, or bring into a state or place by or as if by wriggling

wriggly

ˈri-g(ə-)lē 

adjective

wriggle

2 of 2

noun

1

: a short or quick writhing motion or contortion

2

: a formation or marking of sinuous design

Synonyms

Verb

• fiddle
• fidget
• jerk
• jig
• jiggle
• squiggle
• squirm
• thrash
• thresh
• toss
• twist
• twitch
• wiggle
• writhe

Examples of wriggle in a Sentence

Verb

The children wriggled and squirmed in their chairs.

She managed to wriggle free of her ropes.

They wriggled out of their wet clothes.

I had trouble getting the wriggling fish off my hook.

The snake wriggled across the path and went underneath a bush.

He was able to wriggle through the narrow opening.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Things are wriggling, scuffling, jetting by your ear on the way to nectar. —Murr Brewster, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 June 2024

And when Harry kisses Heather, his tongue lolls out the side of his mouth wriggling back and forth like a blind worm. —Hugh Hart, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2024

Noun

All of which is to say, there's still plenty of wriggle room on your Oscar pool ballot and reason to watch. —Bob Mondello, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024

Finally, a little wriggle and some ripples reveal a tiny calf there, too. —Juliet Kinsman, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from or akin to Middle Low German wriggeln to wriggle; akin to Old English wrigian to turn — more at wry

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1709, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wriggle

• wriggle out of

Kids Definition

wriggle

1 of 2 verb

wrig·​gle ˈrig-əl 

wriggled; wriggling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to twist or move to and fro like a worm : squirm

wriggle in one's chair

wriggle one's toes

2

: to move along by twisting and turning

the eel wriggled its way upstream

wriggle

2 of 2 noun

1

: a short or quick twisting motion

2

: a formation or marking having a winding or twisting course or appearance