1
as in to weave
to cause to twine about one another
tends to writhe his fingers together when he's nervous or upset
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of writhe
In the third stage, jerky movements become writhing and rigidity.
—
Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2025
In one clearing a snake writhed in gray mud.
—Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
The Russians beat him for several minutes, giggling at the sight of their naked, one-legged prisoner writhing on the hard floor.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, Tess is hiding behind records, writhing on the ground, directing Anna with sexy cues.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for writhe
Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2025
In one clearing a snake writhed in gray mud.
—Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
The Russians beat him for several minutes, giggling at the sight of their naked, one-legged prisoner writhing on the hard floor.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, Tess is hiding behind records, writhing on the ground, directing Anna with sexy cues.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for writhe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for writhe
Verb
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Bold and deeply human, Punch is initially a bit slow on the wind up, but its stellar cast help weave together an almost unbelievable story of compassion and empathy in its second act that left many theatergoers sniffling in their seats.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Sep. 2025
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The Chamber praised the chefs’ creativity in weaving authentic Italian dishes with seasonal California flavors.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The open section of their session lasted for 15 minutes — and Howe will have squirmed through every second — but there were laughs amid the stretches and shuttle runs.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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In a horror movie, the sight of a leg being broken and the bone sticking out might be squirm-inducing but not out of bonds.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Feyenoord’s central midfielders did not know whether to stick or twist.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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Laws are not meant to be twisted and curated by privileged elites to fit their own personal agenda.—
Jen Juneau,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Her hand twitched from the heat.—
Zuzana Říhová,
Literary Hub,
26 Sep. 2025
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Any dairy farmer can tell you that biting flies are a pestilent scourge for cattle herds, which is why one so often sees cows throwing their heads, stamping their feet, flicking their tails, and twitching their skin—desperately trying to shake off the nasty creatures.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Entrepreneurship/customer service/ARR (annual recurring revenue) — those three things are pretty tightly entwined.—
Neil Senturia,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Sep. 2025
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Behind the camera, Hopinka entwines himself into the narrative, playfully acknowledging his own positionality as a pow wow person while inviting viewers to share in the personal connections that define the event.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Children fidgeted in the relentless August heat.—
Jacqui Gifford,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Sep. 2025
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Notice: are people fidgeting, looking at their hands, or rolling their eyes?—
Anne Sugar,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Maddie—baggy hoodies tossed over an array of old tattoos, clearly carrying a heavy amount of life for her 28 years—gradually attempts to fill her daughter in on her own youth, treading a tightrope between honesty and delicacy.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
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Carelessness and accidents happen, however, so take some time with each season to go through items and toss anything that’s faded, shattered, or stopped working.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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He, too, was bowled over by the film's tear-jerking finale.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
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Travis jerked open the door and slid on his butt down a wing that was on fire.—
Gillian Telling,
PEOPLE,
20 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Writhe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/writhe. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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