WRIGGLES Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

wriggles

verb

present tense third-person singular of wriggle

as in squirms

to make jerky or restless movements a toddler wriggling in his seat all throughout the church service

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in crawls

to move slowly with the body close to the ground a worm slowly wriggled across the sidewalk

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as in worms

to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way within a month of his arrival, this social upstart had wriggled himself into the family's good graces

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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 wriggles Tuesday, March 3, is when the full Worm Moon wriggles its way into the night sky. — John Tufts, IndyStar, 24 Feb. 2026 That calls for a little extra creativity from its mom — and the movie’s narrator (Emilia Clarke) — who wriggles her mandibles and gets to work embellishing upon what Dahl imagined. — Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wriggles

Verb

The 420 Sport jostles and squirms on these surfaces at low speeds, but the payoff is unfiltered, no-nonsense feedback.

— Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 22 July 2026
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

Definition of squirms

Verb

There’s also a less than 10% chance of showers, if one of the hurricanes crawls farther up the coast, according to Wofford.

— Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Hairy-nosed wombat births are hard to spot, as after about a 30-day pregnancy, the joey crawls into its mother’s pouch.

— Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of crawls

Verb

MomTok got Taylor on the plane and off to star in The Bachelorette, but not before Dakota worms his way in one last time.

— Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Guiteau eventually worms his way into an audience, ostensibly seeking an ambassadorship for his dubious contributions to the campaign but, in reality, requesting a path to greatness.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025

Definition of worms

Verb

Liev hangs back as his wife, Taylor, tosses a handful of worms inside to Grandma, Sizzurp, Fern, Pico, and Miu Miu—a clucking brood whose eggs are packed into custom cartons stamped Hazel’s Hens, named for the couple’s toddler daughter, Hazel Bee.

— Ingrid Abramovitch, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2026
Philip Marlowe as Chandler’s private eye is a smooth talking, whiskey-drinking character who tosses suggestive suggestions and 38 revolvers around with equal aplomb.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026

Definition of tosses

Verb

There’s often a moment leading up to a loss when the doubt creeps in, the confidence gets rattled and the composure gets compromised.

— Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2026
However, if light still creeps in under the door or the edges of windows, try light blocking foam or strips, which may be sold as draft stoppers or weatherproofing materials.

— Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of creeps

Verb

The show, which stars Jessica Chastain as an investigator who infiltrates online hate groups to prevent incidents of mad violence.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2026
This coexistence of the everyday and the extraordinary suggested to me a cinematic way of approaching death – not as a spectacular intrusion, but as a presence that slowly infiltrates daily life.

— Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of infiltrates

Verb

The new district snakes up through Kansas City’s urban core, in an attempt to create a district more favorable for Republicans in the 5th District.

— Jack Harvel July 28, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026
The story of McCarthy’s life was written on this winding street that snakes through a small, working-class corner of Pittsburgh where the Monongahela River bends.

— Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Definition of snakes

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“Wriggles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wriggles. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of wriggles

verb

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