writhe

verb

ˈrīt͟h How to pronounce writhe (audio)
Definition of writhenext
1
as in to weave
to cause to twine about one another tends to writhe his fingers together when he's nervous or upset

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to squirm
to make jerky or restless movements writhing in pain from his injuries

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 writhe Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent this week likened Iran to a snake that has been decapitated but whose body is still writhing. — Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 That night, the horse was thrashing and writhing in agony, suffering from the pain of its wound. — Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026 The cobra seems angry and writhes and attacks, and the handler holds the snake at bay, looking like a man who has made poor lifestyle choices and therefore deserves whatever is coming courtesy of his snake pal. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026 The man with almost no injury was writhing in agony, while the man with a four-inch nail lodged near his brain kept working for six days, not even realizing the nail was there. — Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for writhe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for writhe
  1. weave
  2. squirm
  3. twist
  4. twitch
  5. entwine
  6. fidget
  7. toss
  8. jerk
Verb
  • The fantasy film about a woman (Olivia Colman) who weaves a perfect lover (Alexander Skarsgård) out of the titular material is one of the happy box office surprises of Q4 so far.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Nov. 2026
  • In the build-up, Almirón weaved through Toronto’s defense and played a give-and-go with Alexey Miranchuk, who assisted on the winger’s goal.
    — Amna Subhan, AJC.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of weave
Verb
  • In it, Trofimova is speaking English as the baby squirms in her lap.
    — Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
  • His wife Thessa was checking her phone and vaping in the next room when the child squirmed through the opening and fell.
    — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of squirm
Verb
  • With the Confederate war machine on its knees, Sherman proposed to twist the knife.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Over the last 15 years, Loveless has gained acclaim for their ability to turn vulgarities into poetry and twist impossibly low romantic standards into dire punchlines.
    — Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of twist
Verb
  • Previous research by the researchers documented twitching limbs and moving retinas in another jumping spider species.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Just then, Chee Meng’s fishing rod twitched, and the line began to run out.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of twitch
Verb
  • Still, the exchange revealed how entwined the debate about diagnosis had become with the development and marketing of treatments.
    — Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
  • When Luke’s current assignment becomes entwined with Colter’s, the two become uneasy partners.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of entwine
Verb
  • Leaning against a desk, Thune fidgeted constantly as the chamber voted and the president's arrival neared.
    — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Weaving every movement together are barely perceptible particles that make your ears blink and double-take—bubbles, dolphin gurgles, memory chips fidgeting, sprites hiccuping.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of fidget
Verb
  • Nix tossed a pair of touchdown passes, using the same play-call each time — leaking a back or wide receiver into the end zone.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Drake London had his only reception on the next play, but the threat stalled when Penix tossed three incompletions from the 14 to turn the ball over on downs.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of toss
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
  • Drivers should never swerve or jerk the steering wheel, the state patrol said.
    — Celia Frazier, Denver Post, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of jerk

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Cite this Entry

“Writhe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/writhe. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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