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

Relevance

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
The league could create some sort of criteria out of thin air — most of these trans arguments are created out of thin air, so this would be easy — and wiggle their way out of the mess that way. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026 Like fainting, craving pickles, or struggling to wiggle into skinny jeans, vomiting, in the cultural imagination, is a stand-in for imminent motherhood, as legible as any pregnancy test. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
The property is located right next to a playground and creek to get the wiggles out, and the infinity pool is a favorite. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026 The bolt that holds the rack to the trailer hitch receiver gets nice and tight, eliminating the wiggle and clang-and-bang that an old hand-me-down rack tends to have. — Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 13 May 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
  • The bi-phase formula activates with a quick shake and absorbs effortlessly into skin.
    — Sheryl George, Glamour, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The 30-30-30 method has readers hunting for morning meals that deliver 30 grams of protein fast, without another chalky shake.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of shake
Verb
  • The 5-11, 210-pounder is a sudden cutter who runs with power and twitch, attacking space like a great punt returner.
    — Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The muscles in Lola Petticrew’s face twitch ever so slightly, indicating Catherine’s excitement that the police are now in possession of this picture.
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of twitch
Noun
  • 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
  • Japanese-style cheesecakes, sometimes called soufflé cheesecakes, have risen in popularity in recent years thanks, in part, to social media, where their jiggle and airy texture have helped turn the pie into a viral treat.
    — Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 26 May 2026
Definition of jiggle
Verb
  • Where Raphael’s infant Christ is plump, acquiescent, docile, Cassatt’s children squirm, resist, and ignore authority.
    — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Its defenders will have to do better than making Infantino squirm.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of squirm
Noun
  • His run through the Everton defence and clever flick back to Cunha deserved a goal, although the last-ditch tackle from James Tarkowski was terrific, too.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The 1994 Disney flick, starring Emilio Estevez, follows the coming-of-age journey of an underdog teen hockey team.
    — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of flick
Verb
  • Your first interaction with half-and-half might have been those tiny cups that get tossed on the table at diners, fast food joints, and other less-than-fancy places.
    — Alyse Whitney, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Arnold also appeared in the Futures Game, tossing a scoreless inning with one strikeout and one walk.
    — Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of toss
Noun
  • According to children’s program manager Fedeline Julien, who has worked for Beaches since 1999, the area where Treasure Beach stands used to be dedicated to beach parties, team member residences, and the jerk truck.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026
  • In late August, Mayor Mamdani hosted a celebration of Caribbean culture at Gracie Mansion with plenty of patties and jerk chicken to go around.
    — Reshma B, VIBE.com, 7 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 15 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of quorum

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All