wriggles

Definition of wrigglesnext
present tense third-person singular of wriggle
1
2
as in crawls
to move slowly with the body close to the ground a worm slowly wriggled across the sidewalk

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
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

Synonyms & Similar 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 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
  • 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
Verb
  • Think about how often your toddler crawls near the dog bed or your kids toss pet toys around the living room.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
  • In the book, Grace drags Rocky back to his part of the ship, exposing himself to the Eridian environment; in the film, Rocky crawls back while Grace is unconscious.
    Matthew Razak, Space.com, 23 Mar. 2026
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
Verb
  • Sneak extra broccoli into dinner with this pesto pasta that blends the veggie into both the sauce and tosses it into the finished dish too.
    Patricia S York, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Another day, as Mom loads the children into the car, Jeremy tosses a basketball against the house, again and again, his passive aggression registering through the ball’s unyielding thuds and his own frozen gaze.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • As the world creeps toward peak travel season, industry leaders are taking notice of the fuel shortages.
    Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 13 Apr. 2026
  • The bottom line Concentration risk often creeps into your portfolio over time.
    Doug Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The film centers on a wealthy family whose polished exterior begins to crack when an ancient centipede spirit infiltrates their bloodline.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
  • When investigative journalist infiltrates the group, the noose around the sect begins to tighten.
    Marta Balaga, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • 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
  • Another car snakes down the road.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Londoners won’t queue for just anything, but the coffee and pastries at Jolene are well worth joining the line that often snakes around the corner.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wriggles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wriggles. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on wriggles

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