wiggle 1 of 2

verb

ˈwi-gəl How to pronounce wiggle (audio)
Definition of wigglenext
as in to fidget
to make jerky or restless movements the baby wiggled in her sleep

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wiggle

2 of 2

noun

as in shake

Related Words

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 wiggle
Verb
Slip the pointed end of the toothpick into the center of the knot, and wiggle it back and forth to create a little space. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 9 Sep. 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
Noun
Saints peppered Trick with punches in the corner, but Trick gave Ricky a little wiggle and answered with strikes of his own. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026 Swain boasts what feels like hours of film of unassisted buckets, with so much wiggle and creativity at his size. — The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wiggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wiggle
  1. fidget
  2. shake
  3. twitch
  4. jiggle
  5. squirm
  6. flick
  7. toss
  8. jerk
Verb
  • Following this concern, 55% of parents said their top concern was their child’s ability to complete multistep tasks such as homework while 45% of parents cited fidgeting.
    — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The current boom is driven by Gen Z’s openness about mental health, social-commerce virality on TikTok and Etsy, and a broader nervous-system regulation movement that treats fidgeting as a legitimate coping tool rather than a bad habit.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of fidget
Noun
  • This year, the menu will add mango shakes and slushies, made with fruit picked over the summer, as well as guava and hot pepper guava jellies.
    — Connie Ogle October 1, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Zook Cabins The exterior is finished in LP lap siding, with cedar shake accents, plus a metal roof.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of shake
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
  • When a sensor detected the left or right forelimb moving, the hub sent a limb-specific pulse through the body that reached an implant on the corresponding hind leg, which stimulated the sciatic nerve and made that leg twitch.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of twitch
Noun
  • Even a tiny amount of environmental noise, like the atomic jiggle of heat, can trigger decoherence, a collapse into classical behavior.
    — Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Before putting the jiggle in green Jell-O, Ariana Richards was already shaking things up as a child actress.
    — Huntley Woods, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026
Definition of jiggle
Verb
  • American Horror Story loves nothing more than making viewers squirm.
    — Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The preview ends with a heart-swelling image of Osbourne smiling and squirming with joy in his throne.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of squirm
Noun
  • The kind of person who could, and does, wreck the world with a flick of his finger, without suffering an ounce of remorse or consequence.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is designed as an action flick as well as a portrait of a family dealing with tragedy and an insider’s look at an insular community that mocks harmful stereotypes without perpetrating them.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of flick
Verb
  • Some reports claimed that they were tossed onto the road near the site of his former toll booth.
    — Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
  • If using a can, toss it in the fridge for a few hours, or even the freezer for a bit.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of toss
Noun
  • Bella’s childhood friend Angus (Jake Simmance), a corporate jerk, condescendingly probes Johnny about his career.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • There was significant excitement over the first-look footage revealing perhaps the world’s biggest movie star transforming himself to become a portly, gray-haired jerk in an offbeat feature focusing on climate change.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of jerk

Phrases Containing wiggle

Browse Nearby Words

wigging (out)
wiggle
wiggled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wiggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wiggle. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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