as in fidgets
to make jerky or restless movements
the toddler squirmed the whole time we were in the waiting room
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Recent Examples of squirms
Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
When Brian and Murtagh report that Dougal offended the Grants and Colum had to promise Ellen’s hand to appease the situation, Lord Lovat squirms.
—Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squirms
Verb
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The man fidgets, shifts around in his seat and fixates on Zarutska before pulling out a small knife and striking her multiple times around her neck.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Spoken shade amongst the group is as plentiful as actual shade is absent in LA’s concrete desert, and the trio tosses it around with the casual dominance of Shohei Ohtani.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 Oct. 2025
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The night featured live music, entertainment, fundraising — and yes, a few football tosses with the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback himself.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Some devices, for example, track eye movements or other small muscle twitches to let users select words from a screen.—
Emma R. Hasson,
Scientific American,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Paul goes to shake her hand but jerks it back, then gives her a left-handed handshake.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Case studies from the National Institutes of Health indicate that fewer than 1% of ankle dislocations occur without broken bones.—
Zach Sweet,
Kansas City Star,
27 Oct. 2025
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Meanwhile, the Treasury is losing money on its bond portfolio, and the bond market is experiencing dislocations as the Fed reduces its large post-pandemic balance sheet.—
Allison Schrager,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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His body wiggles with excitement, signaling his tail is wagging.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
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As that magnet rotates, the filament likewise wiggles back and forth, making its way through the urinary tract by pushing off against its inner walls.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Repetitive motions, awkward postures, and constant strain add up, often ending in costly musculoskeletal injuries that take weeks to heal.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
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The case is not over, as there are motions pending before the court, and Nicklaus Companies can appeal the decision.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Squirms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squirms. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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