as in to fidget
to make jerky or restless movements
the toddler squirmed the whole time we were in the waiting room
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in squirming
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of squirm
Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025
Trump: Ukraine should turn to Europe for security USDA chief pitches egg prices plan
The Cabinet and Congress, at least for the time being, squirm in Elon Musk’s shadow.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 27 Feb. 2025
The production seems to have been given zero access to these bachelor’s dates or online interactions; instead, they are recounted as unsurprising post-game chastise sessions, with Hao reiterating his principles while the other men nod along or squirm a bit.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
No more squirming outside a locked restroom with a swollen bladder, while desperately eyeing a vacant restroom restricted to people of a different gender.
—Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for squirm
Verb
The match looked to be heading for a draw but Jorgensen somehow allowed an Asensio volley to squirm underneath him in the 89th minute.
—Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025
Trump: Ukraine should turn to Europe for security USDA chief pitches egg prices plan
The Cabinet and Congress, at least for the time being, squirm in Elon Musk’s shadow.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 27 Feb. 2025
The production seems to have been given zero access to these bachelor’s dates or online interactions; instead, they are recounted as unsurprising post-game chastise sessions, with Hao reiterating his principles while the other men nod along or squirm a bit.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
No more squirming outside a locked restroom with a swollen bladder, while desperately eyeing a vacant restroom restricted to people of a different gender.
—Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for squirm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squirm
Verb
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Game players knew this was coming and fidgeted in their seats to see what their uninitiated friends and family would make of last night’s big The Last of Us episode.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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Then came Brian Harman, fidgeting over each practice swing.—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
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If their tail starts twitching or their ears are flattened, then they may be overstimulated, which can lead to aggression.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
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Real Estate As Ballast Against Market Turbulence Why does Manhattan real estate hold up while other assets twitch?—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Just keep in mind that not all finishes are dishwasher safe, so check before tossing it in.—
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
30 Apr. 2025
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Heat president Pat Riley has always sought to follow up a big splash by tossing another boulder into the pond.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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As soon as Tatiana Pino turned her dark blue Land Rover Defender into her long asphalt driveway, the flatbed truck jerked into reverse and slammed into the passenger side of her SUV, according to footage of the Aug. 30, 2023, hit-and-run obtained by the Herald.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2025
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This apparently spooked an SUV driver in the next lane, who jerked the wheel to the left and ran into the opposite curb.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Gently wiggle the card reader or look for anything that seems loose, bulky or out of place.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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Very gently begin to wiggle your toes, wiggle your fingers, and slowly roll over to one side, holding yourself there for a moment.—
Rosie Acosta,
Outside Online,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Life’s hard enough, and if facial fiddling is music to your ears, have at it.—
Valerie Monroe,
Allure,
21 Feb. 2025
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The fiddling pays off when the fresh herb vinaigrette dresses a mix of Iceberg lettuce and one of the mixed greens combos sold in the marketplace.—
Cathy Thomas,
Orange County Register,
13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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As usual, however, Charli was onstage solo for most of the night, bodying the songs with her trademark unusually violent dancing: hard fist pumps and hair-whipping, torso wrenching and writhing on the stage floor.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
13 Apr. 2025
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The red Indian of the Western plains tied his prisoner to the stake, tortured him, and danced in fiendish glee while his victim writhed in the flames.—
Liz Tracey,
JSTOR Daily,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Siba raced back inside and dropped to the ground, her entire body trembling.—
Christina Goldbaum,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
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Even some spineless Republicans in Congress—who should be carrying President Trump's flag—are trembling instead of cheering his fight for America's soul.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Squirm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squirm. Accessed 8 May. 2025.
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