1
as in twisted
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 twitched
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 writhed
Lesnar smiled as Femi writhed in pain from the multiple finishing moves.
—
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
While family members and peers in Yuba City waited for more information, Burris writhed deeper into the bus, and responders in Martinez formulated a plan to rescue the people left inside.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2026
His fingers splayed and writhed like a terrible mandible.
—Douglas Stuart, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
Ref Bankes initially ignored the wide-eyed protests of several Chelsea players to flash only his yellow card as Garnacho writhed, grimacing on the floor and clutching his left leg.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Doncic writhed below the basket, spending a stoppage of 2-plus minutes with a Lakers trainer kneeling beside him.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026
As a teller activated an alarm and called 911 from under her station desk, Brown writhed on the carpet.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Dec. 2025
Lorde writhed and danced on the b-stage and then launched into her own verse, recorded for the song’s viral remix during the brat-green summer of 2024.
—Rachel Scharf, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2025
Tatum clutched his ankle and writhed in agony on the hardwood of Madison Square Garden before being wheeled to the locker room, head in hands.
—Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
While family members and peers in Yuba City waited for more information, Burris writhed deeper into the bus, and responders in Martinez formulated a plan to rescue the people left inside.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2026
His fingers splayed and writhed like a terrible mandible.
—Douglas Stuart, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
Ref Bankes initially ignored the wide-eyed protests of several Chelsea players to flash only his yellow card as Garnacho writhed, grimacing on the floor and clutching his left leg.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Doncic writhed below the basket, spending a stoppage of 2-plus minutes with a Lakers trainer kneeling beside him.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026
As a teller activated an alarm and called 911 from under her station desk, Brown writhed on the carpet.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Dec. 2025
Lorde writhed and danced on the b-stage and then launched into her own verse, recorded for the song’s viral remix during the brat-green summer of 2024.
—Rachel Scharf, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2025
Tatum clutched his ankle and writhed in agony on the hardwood of Madison Square Garden before being wheeled to the locker room, head in hands.
—Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for writhed
Verb
-
The silver thatch palm, indeginous to Cayman, was twisted by hand into rope that would not rot in saltwater, traded with passing ships for flour and salt and essentials the islands could not produce.—
Baz Dreisinger,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
-
On social media, the LIBS were twisted into a pretzel trying to defend their candidates.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Many a club’s board would have twitched in the face of the bare data, but the chain of command above Arteta stayed the course, and the FOMO is so high that tickets for Palace away this weekend are going for £45,000 ($60,000) on resale sites.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
My jaw twitched uncontrollably.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Last summer, Koudou says that most of her clients wanted freestyle braids—an elaborate style with cornrows braided in different patterns.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
18 June 2026
-
Instead, pleasures are always braided.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Belloumi’s 64th-minute strike with his left foot broke the deadlock in the second game of the two-leg affair and Gelhardt made sure with a low shot that squirmed past the Millwall goalkeeper.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 May 2026
-
His Japanese guest, usually a paragon of diplomatic cool, visibly squirmed.—
Andreas Kluth,
Twin Cities,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Tsietsi sent one of them to the front as a lookout, while the others eagerly plied him with questions about his activities.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
-
As Levenson makes clear, these three arguments have been plied for as long as vaccines have.—
Diana Gitig,
ArsTechnica,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
One woman ordered some home furniture while two children fidgeted nearby.—
David Lyons,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Between each dance was an excruciating silence during which network-TV producers monitored and reset their equipment while the men fidgeted onstage like excitable children.—
Rebecca Jennings,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The story of Nott Cott is entwined with the story of Kensington Palace itself.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
20 June 2026
-
Because of all that’s at stake, though, something else is entwined with the honor and responsibility of hosting.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Staying on theme, Diaz tossed her hair into a quick updo with face-framing tendrils hanging out.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
17 June 2026
-
Cardboard boxes, whether filled or not, should definitely be tossed, as these attract insects of all kinds.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Writhed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/writhed. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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