WRIGGLY Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

wriggly

adjective

Definition of wriggly

as in wiggly

making jerky or restless movements after a while, the little girl got wriggly and had to be taken outside to the church vestibule

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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 wriggly Both players are wriggly, elusive dribblers. — Luke Bosher, New York Times, 25 June 2026 Medieval Christians looked at the very same phenomenon and imagined it as a reflection of divine will, the transformation of a wriggly worm into a flying jewel an earthly reminder of the transfiguration of Jesus to Christ. — Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wriggly

Adjective

Teaching first grade has always involved dealing with wiggly and talkative kids.

— Stacker, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
At the edges of the channel, near the walls, Rout and Lim’s team saw rapid fluctuations of molecules — those were the wiggly nucleoporins.

— Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 9 Mar. 2026

Definition of wiggly

Adjective

The screwworm is actually a parasitic fly named for its larvae, which look like squirmy worms.

— Alice Park, Time, 2 July 2026
Simply set out bowls of coffee grounds among your outdoor seating areas to prevent ants, mosquitoes, fruit flies, and squirmy critters from crashing your barbecue.

— Joey Skladany, Southern Living, 17 June 2026

Definition of squirmy

Adjective

Especially when the protagonists are fighting gangsters, offensive editors, twitchy Vatican librarians, and an oversized Jason Momoa, to claim the hand of Gal Gadot’s two characters, one in the present, one in the past.

— A.D. Amorosi, SPIN, 6 Aug. 2026
However, his ability to mirror in space and react quickly to twitchy pass rushers can be an adventure, which is partly why a transition from tackle to guard makes sense.

— Dane Brugler, New York Times, 30 July 2026

Definition of twitchy

Adjective

The Braves opted against parting with their most valuable prospects at the trade deadline, a decision that’s upset part of the fanbase and many around the organization but will require time to judge.

— Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026
It’s considered the biggest upset in the history of the tournament.

— PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of upset

Browse Nearby Words

wriggling

wriggly

wright

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“Wriggly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wriggly. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of wriggly

adjective

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