squiggle

1 of 2

verb

squig·​gle ˈskwi-gəl 

squiggled; squiggling ˈskwi-g(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: squirm, wriggle

squiggling in her seat

2

: to write or paint hastily : scribble

transitive verb

1

: scribble

2

: to form or cause to form in squiggles

squiggle

2 of 2

noun

: a short wavy twist or line : curlicue

especially : an illegible scrawl

squiggly

ˈskwi-g(ə-)lē 

adjective

Synonyms of squiggle

Verb

• twitch
• fidget
• toss
• squirm
• jerk
• wiggle
• twist
• fiddle

Examples of squiggle in a Sentence

Verb

a pediatrician's waiting room full of squiggling toddlers

there are some illegible notes squiggled in the margins of the old book

Noun

His handwriting looks like a bunch of squiggles.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The cake is gingery, light and moist, squiggled with thick cream cheese frosting. —Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 15 Sep. 2025

The six dancers in bright blues and greens (a seventh, originally Brown, appears at the beginning and the end) ripple and squiggle through space, intersecting and occasionally aligning, ricocheting and weaving. —Roslyn Sulcas, New York Times, 1 May 2025

Noun

In 2021, when squiggles and wiggles took over the home design landscape, glassware was no exception: Zigzagging stems and wobbly silhouettes became regular fixtures on Instagram tablescapes that wholeheartedly embraced whimsy. —Emily Johnson, Architectural Digest, 18 Oct. 2025

Wallpaper and textile patterns feature bold geometrics, Memphis-style squiggles and Pop-Artsy botanicals. —Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

blend of squirm and wriggle

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1816, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1900, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for squiggle

• giggle
• jiggle
• wiggle
• wriggle

Kids Definition

squiggle

noun

squig·​gle

ˈskwig-əl

: a short wavy twist or line : curlicue