squirms; squirmed; squirming
: to make a lot of twisting movements because you are nervous, uncomfortable, bored, etc.
The baby squirmed a lot when I tried to hold him.
She squirmed under her father's angry stare.
The children squirmed with delight.
He tried to hold onto her but she squirmed free.
The frog squirmed out of his hands.
The gory details of the story had me squirming in my seat.
—sometimes used figurativelya Congressional investigation that is making the industry squirm [=making people in the industry very nervous and uncomfortable]
Cite this Entry
“Squirm.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/squirm. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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