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
Noun
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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When the Linguina Monograno all’Astice arrives, there are oohs and aahs as a waiter tosses the pasta in front of guests and finishes with a sprinkling of zest from a cedro, a large Italian citrus.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
10 Oct. 2025
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The second of those four TD tosses was the 250th of Mahomes’ career, and no quarterback in NFL history had reached that milestone in fewer games.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
30 Sep. 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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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
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McDonald's worries are juxtaposed against a stock market hitting new highs on a daily basis on hopes a looser Fed will patch up any economic dislocations.—
John Melloy,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 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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That coach believes going through the opponents’ motions is one of the most important elements of the game planning process.—
Jourdan Rodrigue,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
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Citrus Memorial filed motions to stay recoupment during formal administration proceedings and collections were temporarily suspended.—
Lauren Giella,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Squirms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squirms. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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