as in to fidget
to make jerky or restless movements
the toddler squirmed the whole time we were in the waiting room
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as in squirming
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Recent Examples of squirm
Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 27 Feb. 2025
The production seems to have been given zero access to these bachelor’s dates or online interactions; instead, they are recounted as unsurprising post-game chastise sessions, with Hao reiterating his principles while the other men nod along or squirm a bit.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
No more squirming outside a locked restroom with a swollen bladder, while desperately eyeing a vacant restroom restricted to people of a different gender.
—Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
Two fluffy, gray eaglets squirmed in the nest as Shadow happily settled in to keep his new chicks safe and warm.
—Devyn Byers, CNN, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for squirm
Verb
Trump: Ukraine should turn to Europe for security USDA chief pitches egg prices plan
The Cabinet and Congress, at least for the time being, squirm in Elon Musk’s shadow.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 27 Feb. 2025
The production seems to have been given zero access to these bachelor’s dates or online interactions; instead, they are recounted as unsurprising post-game chastise sessions, with Hao reiterating his principles while the other men nod along or squirm a bit.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
No more squirming outside a locked restroom with a swollen bladder, while desperately eyeing a vacant restroom restricted to people of a different gender.
—Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
Two fluffy, gray eaglets squirmed in the nest as Shadow happily settled in to keep his new chicks safe and warm.
—Devyn Byers, CNN, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for squirm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squirm
Verb
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Then came Brian Harman, fidgeting over each practice swing.—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
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Minimize distracting habits like fidgeting, checking your watch, or tapping your fingers.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Kirk says that when a cat experiences changes in air pressure, which can also happen while riding in a car, their ears may move or twitch in response.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
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That ratio is naturally reversed here, though the director drops in a few snippets of the actual team near the beginning and the end, including a grainy, chilling shot of the real Lemons twitching near the ocean floor.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Pair them with your favorite bra top at the gym, and then toss on a slouchy tee or sweater after hours.—
Korin Miller,
Glamour,
18 Apr. 2025
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Just before serving, add the asparagus-bean mixture to the serving bowl and toss well, adding more lemon juice, olive oil or salt to your taste.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This apparently spooked an SUV driver in the next lane, who jerked the wheel to the left and ran into the opposite curb.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 Mar. 2025
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How to jerk off Jerking off, also known as jacking off, is another technique that can be helpful in your arsenal of self-pleasure.—
Quispe López,
Them,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The Titans loaded the bases with no one out only to see Point Loma’s Hunter Weller wiggle out of the jam on a foul bunt to the catcher, a popout to second base and a lazy fly ball to left field.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2025
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There’s the wiggling dance after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas at the 2023 Italian Open in Rome.—
Matthew Futterman,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Life’s hard enough, and if facial fiddling is music to your ears, have at it.—
Valerie Monroe,
Allure,
21 Feb. 2025
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The fiddling pays off when the fresh herb vinaigrette dresses a mix of Iceberg lettuce and one of the mixed greens combos sold in the marketplace.—
Cathy Thomas,
Orange County Register,
13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Only two bodies remain still: Ferran’s, in one corner of the platform, and that of a young man (Jabez Sykes) diagonally across from her, tall and willowy and pale — two statues that seem moonlit while the rest of the world writhes and sweats around them.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
11 Mar. 2025
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And inmates have been seen to writhe and struggle when the latest method, nitrogen gas, is used to suffocate them as it is pushed through a mask.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Cursor no longer trembles when building pavement and moving the camera in the Hideout building mode.—
Oliver Brandt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
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The clip shows the small dog trembling in the passenger seat of Shae's car, looking very weary and wide-eyed.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
23 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Squirm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squirm. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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