squiggle

verb

squig·gle | \ ˈskwi-gəl

How to pronounce squiggle (audio)

\

squiggled; squiggling\ ˈskwi-g(ə-)liŋ

How to pronounce squiggle (audio)

\

Definition of squiggle

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

noun

Definition of squiggle (Entry 2 of 2)

: a short wavy twist or line : curlicue especially : an illegible scrawl

Other Words from squiggle Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about squiggle

Keep scrolling for more

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 surrounding plasma will become too hot for even radio waves to squiggle through, and for six terrifying minutes, the passengers won’t be able to talk with Mission Control. — Marina Koren, The Atlantic, "Spaceflight Is Back in America," 3 Aug. 2020 The tadpoles of western toads squiggle, and water skeeters perform a graceful backwoods ballet. — Lynda V. Mapes, The Seattle Times, "Battling Scotch broom along Olympic’s Hoh River that threatens fish, forests," 27 May 2018 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The detail comes in the form of the squiggle that’s inspired by the spiral on a Greek column. — Felicity Carter, Forbes, "Love Retro Fashion? Here’s Some Stylish Selects To Channel Your Inner Twiggy And Jackie O," 19 Apr. 2021 To compare his 1955 Newman, a pretty boy whose smile is a quick squiggle, with the Newman of 2002, his features still handsome but etched by the passage of a half-century, is an epitome in two drawings of Hirschfeld’s art. — Terry Teachout, WSJ, "‘Our Town’ Is Having a Moment (Again)," 6 Apr. 2021 As this once-prevailing pattern finally fades away, it's being replaced by a looser, curvier pattern: the squiggle. — Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, "Squiggly Decor Is the Funky Design Trend That Will Instantly Cheer Up Your Home," 31 Mar. 2021 At first glance, Pikaia might seem like little more than a prehistoric squiggle. — Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, "Ten Exquisite Creatures That Once Roamed the Earth," 10 Dec. 2020 Grabbing lunch with a friend in California on Saturday, Hailey wore a black sweater and Alexander Wang sweatpants—JB loves a sweat pant—and styled the cozy pieces with a leather jacket covered in a graphic squiggle print. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, "Hailey Bieber’s Latest Look Channels Her Husband," 25 Oct. 2020 But even under a barrage of black-and-white squiggles, the vehicle clearly has a more dynamic design aesthetic than the S-class, including protruding taillights and vortex-generating bumps across the trunk to improve aerodynamics. — Roberto Baldwin, Car and Driver, "Mercedes Releases Teaser Photo of EQS, Its Flagship Electric Sedan," 26 May 2020 Shives sat me down in front of a screen full of multi-coloured squiggles and numbers, with a small black-and-white video of me sleeping in the corner. — Neil Steinberg, Quartz, "One billion people worldwide stop breathing while they sleep," 15 Dec. 2019 From 200 feet up, the playgrounds morph into abstraction, their shapes and squiggles straight out of a Joan Miró painting. — Laura Mallonee, Wired, "The Eerie Stillness of Empty Schoolyards," 10 May 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'squiggle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about squiggle

Dictionary Entries near squiggle

Statistics for squiggle

Cite this Entry

“Squiggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squiggle. Accessed 18 May. 2021.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for squiggle

squiggle

noun

English Language Learners Definition of squiggle

: a short line with many curves : a short, wavy line

See the full definition for squiggle in the English Language Learners Dictionary

WORD OF THE DAY

peruse

Listen to the pronunciation of peruse

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

Choose the best definition or synonym for the word in bold: "There are some eructations that sound like cheers—at least, mine did." Lolita

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ

Anagram puzzles meet word search.

TAKE THE QUIZ