WRITHE Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

writhe

verb

ˈrīt͟h

Definition of writhe

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

as in to squirm

to make jerky or restless movements writhing in pain from his injuries

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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 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 Once Turek has finished writhing about on the floor in a shambolic attempt to gather, Czibor is on hand to whip the ball away and tuck it home from six yards, the simplest of tasks. — Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for writhe

Recent Examples of Synonyms for writhe

Verb

Elaine unravels that mystery, weaving together the way insurance companies’ coverage decisions have shaped how these medicines are used.

— Amanda Erickson, STAT, 28 Sep. 2026
Intricate leather weaves reinterpreted the brand’s classic bags and shoes, while denim, crystal embroidery and ostrich-effect materials added pizzazz to the lineup.

— Katie Abel, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of weave

Verb

At one point during Paramount’s tense standoff with the state attorneys general, the company threatened to move its headquarters out of Los Angeles — a threat that many viewed as an effort to twist Bonta’s arm into cutting a favorable deal.

— Liam Reilly, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
In this age of unremitting test screenings and CinemaScore, downer endings typically score lower, so Abrams appreciates that Cregger and Sony weren’t afraid to figuratively twist the knife in the audience.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of twist

Verb

This is not easy for Robin (Griffin), who, judging by his nervously twitching legs and tendency to info-dump on interlocutors, finds ordinary interactions very stressful.

— Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026
When Karen goes to visit Hanneke in the hospital, Hanneke’s hand starts to twitch.

— Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of twitch

Verb

Following this concern, 55% of parents said their top concern was their child’s ability to complete multistep tasks such as homework while 45% of parents cited fidgeting.

— Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Aug. 2026
The current boom is driven by Gen Z’s openness about mental health, social-commerce virality on TikTok and Etsy, and a broader nervous-system regulation movement that treats fidgeting as a legitimate coping tool rather than a bad habit.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of fidget

Verb

And like any great sitcom, Friends runs the gamut from numbing brain-rot to tear-jerking sentimentality.

— Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 9 Sep. 2026
Even after a bailiff woke him up, Martin slumped over in his wheelchair, inside a courtroom bullpen, occasionally jerking and opening his eyes.

— Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of jerk

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write-ups

writhe

writhed

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“Writhe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/writhe. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of writhe

verb

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