squiggle

1 of 2

verb

squig·​gle ˈskwi-gəl How to pronounce squiggle (audio)
squiggled; squiggling ˈskwi-g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce squiggle (audio)
Synonyms of squigglenext

intransitive verb

1
: squirm, wriggle
squiggling in her seat
2
: to write or paint hastily : scribble

transitive verb

1
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 adjective

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
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Verb
Pairing neon squiggles with a bare base creates a striking negative-space design that's made to catch eyes. Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 29 May 2026 The salamanders are still squiggling commas inside them. Nathan Rott, NPR, 27 May 2026
Noun
Ansley Bowman, 22, spent her flight from Cairo to Athens drawing an amphora with the pegasus Blackjack in the center, also adorned with the squiggle used under every chapter in the book. Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 26 May 2026 This look features florals and squiggles—designs that are soft on their own, but get a bit of edge thanks to the silver metallic finish. Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 24 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for squiggle

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of squiggle was circa 1816

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Squiggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squiggle. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

squiggle

noun
squig·​gle
ˈskwig-əl
: a short wavy twist or line : curlicue

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