Synonyms of writhes

writhes

verb

present tense third-person singular of writhe

1

as in weaves

to cause to twine about one another

tends to writhe his fingers together when he's nervous or upset

Synonyms & Similar Words

• weaves
• twists
• entwines
• plies
• intertwines
• mixes
• implicates
• braids
• interweaves
• blends
• interlaces
• wreathes
• enlaces
• laces
• inweaves
• intertwists
• plaits
• plats
• joins
• fuses
• links
• pleaches

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unwinds
• uncoils
• disentangles
• untangles
• untwines

2

as in squirms

to make jerky or restless movements

writhing in pain from his injuries

Synonyms & Similar Words

• squirms
• tosses
• twitches
• fidgets
• jerks
• trembles
• twists
• wiggles
• fiddles
• wriggles
• shivers
• thrashes
• shakes
• jiggles
• threshes
• shudders
• flutters
• quivers
• flits
• jigs
• squiggles
• paces
• quakes
• twitters

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rests
• relaxes
• unwinds
• calms (down)
• stills

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of writhes

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

Reid writhes in front of Zaman, sticking out his tongue in one take, running his hand down his body in another, all while a gigantic technocrane zooms overhead. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 2 June 2026

The truth risks bringing down the whole edifice, which is why the system writhes to hide who takes decisions large and small. — Azadeh Moaveni, Time, 3 Feb. 2026

The congregation writhes, sometimes in unison, and whirls and stomps; at one point, a line of folks snake through a doorway and into the foreground, as the camera rotates in the opposite direction. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 Dec. 2025

So says the priest (Ben Hall) to Sister Agnes (Hayley McFarland), who writhes in a dark room, foaming at the mouth before a gathering of fellow Carmelite nuns. — Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025