SQUIRMED Synonyms: 29 Similar and Opposite Words

squirmed

verb

past tense of squirm

as in fidgeted

to make jerky or restless movements the toddler squirmed the whole time we were in the waiting room

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of squirmed In the back, tanks bubbled with live lobsters while crawfish squirmed in boxes nearby. — Sara Rosenthal, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026 Laura squirmed under her mother’s gaze, willed the light to turn green. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026 Belloumi’s 64th-minute strike with his left foot broke the deadlock in the second game of the two-leg affair and Gelhardt made sure with a low shot that squirmed past the Millwall goalkeeper. — ABC News, 11 May 2026 His Japanese guest, usually a paragon of diplomatic cool, visibly squirmed. — Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 14 Apr. 2026 Carl squirmed away from some of his earlier remarks minimizing the Holocaust but stood by his views on anti-white persecution and the Great Replacement. — Andreas Kluth, Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2026 Juana Rodriguez was bound for hours as her 3-year old son cried and squirmed, according to the ACLU lawsuit that was filed on behalf of three Latino families. — Michael Kaplan, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026 The open section of their session lasted for 15 minutes — and Howe will have squirmed through every second — but there were laughs amid the stretches and shuttle runs. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for squirmed

Verb

One woman ordered some home furniture while two children fidgeted nearby.

— David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
Between each dance was an excruciating silence during which network-TV producers monitored and reset their equipment while the men fidgeted onstage like excitable children.

— Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026

Definition of fidgeted

Verb

During the test, Linton jerked and twitched in what prosecutors described as an attempt to fake a seizure.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Somewhere nearby, in a dark office, an eavesdropping oreja has just jerked to attention on his hard little chair.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of jerked

Verb

The few immigrants who did vote improperly had their ballots tossed but otherwise faced no legal problems.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
The Panthers are coming off a 59-0 victory over Nevada Community; Heritage sophomore quarterback Lane Vargas tossed eight TD passes.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of tossed

Verb

As a woman waded through the waters around the Bridge Side Marina in Bridge Isle, Louisiana, the tiny canine with a fluffy white coat wiggled his forelegs as if swimming, video of the cute moment shows.

— Erika Angulo, NBC news, 11 Oct. 2026
Imanaga wiggled out of a one-out double in the first, then was supported by Pete Crow-Armstrong’s eighth leadoff home run of the season and the second in as many games.

— Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of wiggled

Verb

Her thumbs fiddled, and her eyebrows rose as Castillo excoriated government spending on undocumented immigrants.

— Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
But what does some scientist know about eating fruit, of all things, when your hamstring feels like it’s being fiddled by Satan?

— Dan England, Outside, 5 Feb. 2026

Definition of fiddled

Verb

Legend writhed in pain on the ground as Ruca took a second on her back to gather herself.

— Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
While family members and peers in Yuba City waited for more information, Burris writhed deeper into the bus, and responders in Martinez formulated a plan to rescue the people left inside.

— Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2026

Definition of writhed

Verb

Unlike streaming metrics, which can be twisted and touted in any which way, box office dollars are uniformly reported — meaning there’s no denying a hit (or a miss).

— Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 18 Oct. 2026
It’s designed to be ergonomic, able to be held and twisted in myriad ways depending on what’s most comfortable for the user.

— Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of twisted

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squirm

squirmed

squirming

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“Squirmed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squirmed. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of squirmed

verb

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