writhe

verb

\ ˈrīt͟h

writhed; writhing

Definition of writhe

transitive verb

1a : to twist into coils or folds

b : to twist so as to distort : wrench

c : to twist (the body or a bodily part) in pain

2 : intertwine

intransitive verb

1 : to move or proceed with twists and turns writhed to the music

2 : to twist from or as if from pain or struggling

3 : to suffer keenly

Other Words from writhe Synonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about writhe

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Did You Know?

Writhe wound its way to English from the Old English verb wrīthan ("to twist") and is akin to the Old English verb wrigian ("to turn or go"). Wrigian gave us our words wriggle, awry, and wry. When something wriggles it twists from side to side with quick movements, like an earthworm. When something goes awry, its twists or winds off course, or toward catastrophe. Wry can mean "bent or twisted" but now usually implies clever, ironic humor. Nowadays, writhe often suggests the physical contortions one makes when enduring crippling pain or when trying to extract oneself from a tight grasp (as an animal from a predator's claws). Alternatively, it can imply an emotionally wrenching feeling (as of grief or fear) from which one seeks relief.

Examples of writhe in a Sentence

She lay on the floor, writhing in pain. a nest of writhing snakes

Recent Examples on the Web

Models wove their way around dancing performers, who writhed on the floor wearing second-skin suits and were connected to the ceiling with wires. — Elizabeth Paton, New York Times, "Our 5 Favorite Shows From the Men’s Runways in London," 11 June 2018 The complex’s centerpiece—a Frank Gehry tower with its writhing metal cladding—is not quite ready for the big reveal but nevertheless looms large over the Alyscamps (the Romans’ Elysian fields showcased the recent Gucci Resort collection). — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, "What to See at the Rencontres d’Arles Photo Festival," 24 Aug. 2018 Any choreographer who can turn an onstage overdose into a writhing sofa ballet should begin preparing a Tony acceptance speech. — Christopher Muther, BostonGlobe.com, "A ‘Jagged Little Pill’ for these times," 25 May 2018 Things rose, reluctantly but deliberately, to a writhing climax. — Giovanni Russonello, New York Times, "Review: A Jazzfest Marathon Where Voices Lead the Way to Resistance and Renewal," 15 Jan. 2018 Still, the Astros managed to writhe out of the straitjacket that entangled Morton. — Hunter Atkins, Houston Chronicle, "Astros pick up messy win over Rangers, clinch series," 10 June 2018 The first year, though, the warm water attracted mayflies that bred and filled the lake with writhing larvae. — Ezra Dyer, Popular Mechanics, "The Palace of Perfectionism Where McLaren Supercars Are Born," 12 Feb. 2016 Instead, the sick lie on the ground outside, writhing and crying in pain. — Mallory Locklear, Discover Magazine, "With Big Data and Predictive Analytics, Scientists Are Getting Smarter About Outbreaks," 8 Nov. 2018 Crucial patterns in wallpaper seem to writhe with a life of their own, mimicking the way that images and events can blur and shift in our memories with the passage of time. — Karen Han, Vox, "The Sinner is the rare murder mystery that doesn’t care whodunnit. Instead, it asks, “Why?”," 31 July 2018

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