as in twitching
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1
as in weaving
to cause to twine about one another
tends to writhe his fingers together when he's nervous or upset
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in squirming
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 writhing
Hunter Ingram, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
Rookie catcher Jesus Rodríguez was drilled by a 95 mph sinker in the bottom of the seventh, writhing in pain for several moments but ultimately staying in the game to run.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 9 May 2026
After a few minutes, your eyes gradually adjust, and the performers, the maybe-lovers, come into view, flesh on the ground, writhing and making out and embracing.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 8 May 2026
No one concerned that this woman was clearly writhing in pain.
—Literary Hub, 8 May 2026
Both men were down, writhing in pain once again.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Their struggle has upturned the tabletop candle that illuminates the scene and any moment will surely extinguish it, effacing the giddy pattern formed by the writhing bodies and glowing, veiny bladder skin.
—Julian Bell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
The result left Adebayo writhing in pain, having to be helped off the court, unable to return.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
Adebayo stayed down on the court writhing in pain, forcing the Heat to call a timeout.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
Throughout the writhing and the screaming, Julia’s fortitude wears down a defiant Davina, whose history with Lovat feeds the moment.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of Huntington's disease can include involuntary jerking or writhing movements, muscle rigidity or contracture, slowed or unusual eye movements, difficulty walking or maintaining balance, and trouble with speech or swallowing.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
Rookie catcher Jesus Rodríguez was drilled by a 95 mph sinker in the bottom of the seventh, writhing in pain for several moments but ultimately staying in the game to run.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 9 May 2026
After a few minutes, your eyes gradually adjust, and the performers, the maybe-lovers, come into view, flesh on the ground, writhing and making out and embracing.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 8 May 2026
No one concerned that this woman was clearly writhing in pain.
—Literary Hub, 8 May 2026
Both men were down, writhing in pain once again.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Their struggle has upturned the tabletop candle that illuminates the scene and any moment will surely extinguish it, effacing the giddy pattern formed by the writhing bodies and glowing, veiny bladder skin.
—Julian Bell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
The result left Adebayo writhing in pain, having to be helped off the court, unable to return.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
Adebayo stayed down on the court writhing in pain, forcing the Heat to call a timeout.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for writhing
Noun
-
Casting near banks and using a twitching technique can increase success during the hatch.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
14 May 2026
-
During this phase, octopuses display visible twitching along with rapid changes in skin color and texture, per NPR.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Brith, who is ahead and in charge, is taking as her guide the stream, which sparks in the sunlight, cutting a narrow channel through the hillside, weaving itself around rocks and tree trunks, appearing and disappearing, diving underground then springing up in unexpected places.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
The latter can seem more like a game of dodgeball with bikes weaving in and out of your path.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Unless your companion could use a hand or is traveling with young kids (in the latter case, if this person also happens to be your spouse or partner, really not cool to leave them with the stroller, diaper bag, squirming kids).—
CNT Editors,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
The player who was hit by the cart immediately grabbed his thigh and knee area while squirming in pain on the ground.—
Mark Harris OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Barnard attended the ceremony with Soprano, Lola’s female stand-in and a convincing lookalike, who accepted the collar with considerable enthusiasm and even more considerable wriggling.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
Verb
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Alex Edwards kneeled on the carpet to calm down Zuri Kafuko, 3, by twisting part of her hair back in place.—
William J. Ford,
Baltimore Sun,
25 May 2026
-
Press straight down to cut the dough, without twisting the cutter, to keep the layers intact.—
Terrence Hayes,
Southern Living,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Pekara said hospital surveillance footage captured him fidgeting under the blanket.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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As the court moved to watch the KSTU-TV segment, Tyler Robinson appeared to begin fidgeting, with one of his hands moving and rubbing his fingers back and forth.—
Stepheny Price , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Her fiddling is a looser, freer, more accessible type of memorialization—less a notation than an invocation, a summoning of her homeland’s spirit.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
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Colorado’s lone goal was a result of some Matt Wells tactical fiddling — and Keegan Rosenberry playing like his job’s on the line — gone right.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The video appears to show a person standing with a snow shovel outside the house, near the street, then retreating toward the house and tossing the shovel into the yard.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
Toast 1 cup raw walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing halfway through, until golden brown, 8–10 minutes.—
Kamal Mouzawak,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Writhing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/writhing. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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