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
Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 21 Jan. 2026
My sense is that the trail leads to nothing revelatory, but at least you’re treated to plenty of exploding bodies, piles of steaming flesh and a writhing A-list cast along the way.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 21 Jan. 2026
Star goalie Igor Shesterkin was left writhing in pain after attempting to stop oncoming Utah Mammoth forward JJ Peterka.
—Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Raynaud clutched his left knee while writhing in pain before limping off the floor with assistance from head athletic trainer Joel Noland.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 4 Jan. 2026
Jokic collapsed to the court, grabbing at the knee and writhing in pain.
—CBS News, 30 Dec. 2025
This is then contrasted with the weight of this trauma, which pulls her to the ground, writhing in pain, in search of a new form of release.
—Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 26 Dec. 2025
After Nancy shoots the exotic matter, the writhing ball of energy becomes even more ferocious, melting the top of the lab at a more rapid rate.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 25 Dec. 2025
Jovic immediately grabbed at his lower back and stayed down on the court writhing in pain, as Heat teammates and trainers immediately rushed to check on him.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 16 Dec. 2025
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
After stuffing the shot, which caromed to the Razorbacks' Nick Pringle, James fell to the floor writhing in pain and grasping at his back.
—Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 21 Jan. 2026
My sense is that the trail leads to nothing revelatory, but at least you’re treated to plenty of exploding bodies, piles of steaming flesh and a writhing A-list cast along the way.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 21 Jan. 2026
Star goalie Igor Shesterkin was left writhing in pain after attempting to stop oncoming Utah Mammoth forward JJ Peterka.
—Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Raynaud clutched his left knee while writhing in pain before limping off the floor with assistance from head athletic trainer Joel Noland.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 4 Jan. 2026
Jokic collapsed to the court, grabbing at the knee and writhing in pain.
—CBS News, 30 Dec. 2025
This is then contrasted with the weight of this trauma, which pulls her to the ground, writhing in pain, in search of a new form of release.
—Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 26 Dec. 2025
After Nancy shoots the exotic matter, the writhing ball of energy becomes even more ferocious, melting the top of the lab at a more rapid rate.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 25 Dec. 2025
Jovic immediately grabbed at his lower back and stayed down on the court writhing in pain, as Heat teammates and trainers immediately rushed to check on him.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 16 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for writhing
Noun
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After 10 weeks without food, Muraisi is experiencing involuntary muscular twitching and severe chest pains, according to Prisoners for Palestine, with her doctors warning of possible cardiovascular collapse.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Patients first experience twitching or weakness in a limb, as Decker did.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
16 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Beginning at Sunrise Point Fishing Pier, the route winds northwest through the city—ascending stairways, threading through hillside neighborhoods, and weaving across parks both iconic and obscure—before culminating at Lands End Lookout.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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Noah will stream his experience and reactions across more than 25 World Cup games, weaving in reactions from friends, athletes, and creators.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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There is another issue, of course, squirming away in the soft flesh of maternity leave.—
Nell Frizzell,
Vogue,
13 Jan. 2026
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An annual tradition in the legal circle, as well as his UCLA symposium sit-downs, the hourlong speech from the predominantly softspoken Ziffren clearly had a few attendees squirming in their seats near the end.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Guide both legs to one side instead of twisting one leg at a time.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
20 Jan. 2026
-
For a harder version, try shoulder taps, which involve tapping alternate shoulders in the plank position without twisting.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cole, wearing a khaki jumpsuit, spent much of the hearing sitting quietly and attentively as the parties argued, occasionally adjusting his glasses or fidgeting slightly in his chair.—
Gary Grumbach,
NBC news,
30 Dec. 2025
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Applause intermingled with tears as the families of the Camp Mystic campers and counselors looked on, many with small children fidgeting in their Sunday-best attire behind the governor.—
Rebekah Riess,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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As the options for facial fiddling have become more accessible, the face is increasingly regarded as an image to be perfected.—
Valerie Monroe,
Allure,
15 Jan. 2026
-
For those deep in the Apple ecosystem who want headphones that just work without all the fiddling, the Beats Solo 4 make sense with a 25% discount.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The officers moved quickly, coordinating their response and getting the dog out of the icy water safely by tossing a rope around it and dragging it out of the pool.—
Josh Sanders,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
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In just the past five months, Jones Dickson has dismissed charges against nine law enforcement officers in three separate criminal cases — most recently tossing the manslaughter case against former San Leandro police Officer Jason Fletcher in the 2020 fatal shooting of Steven Taylor.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Even the normally surefire element of a score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, with its blasts of dissonance pumping up the squirm factor, adds to the heavy-going effect of a movie that seems to go out of its way to be grating.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Aug. 2025
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That kind of thing makes a checker squirm.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Writhing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/writhing. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
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