wriggle

1
as in to squirm
to make jerky or restless movements a toddler wriggling in his seat all throughout the church service

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2
as in to crawl
to move slowly with the body close to the ground a worm slowly wriggled across the sidewalk

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3
as in to worm
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way within a month of his arrival, this social upstart had wriggled himself into the family's good graces

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wriggle For the first time in who knows how long, Kanye West is actually trying to wriggle his way out of an explosive, contentious situation. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2025 It was once believed the Worm Moon's name was derived from earthworms wriggling through March's warming soil, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, which heralded the first signs of spring as birds returned to feast on them. John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Oct. 2024 So, Charlie got a ladder, wriggled through a transom, and got his collection, stored in two crates which had previously contained oranges. Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2025 At the Columbus Zoo, revenge is a dish best served wriggling. Alissa Widman Neese, Axios, 4 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wriggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wriggle
Verb
  • Joseph Quinn, the terrific British actor from A Quiet Place: Day One and Gladiator 2 (and our next Johnny Storm in Fantastic Four: First Steps), spends the bulk of this picture squirming in torment, emitting ear-splitting noises from deep within the pits of hell.
    Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The sixth episode of The White Lotus Season 3 has critics stunned—and in some cases, squirming—after a grim hour that pushed creator Mike White's pitch-black satire to new depths.
    Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.
    Helena Wegner, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Senators from both sides of the aisle are reigniting efforts to crawl back technology companies’ legal immunities with hopes bipartisan support in Congress could push the bill across the finish line this session and gain the backing of President Trump.
    Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • At the same time, Waltz tried to flip the script and blame Goldberg -- suggesting the editor could have somehow wormed his way in to the group chat.
    Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2025
  • The popular genre is inexpensive to produce and compelling to view, and a new documentary or documentary series always seems to worm its way into the zeitgeist.
    Brian Welk, IndieWire, 29 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • In the footage, the faceless android is seen suspended from the ceiling, its limbs twitching and moving in an unsettlingly human-like manner.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 11 Mar. 2025
  • For example, dogs who love running might be twitching their paws while dreaming.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Charges of price gouging—originally levelled at industrial farmers—were creeping into the sandwich space.
    H. C. Wilentz, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Gill-over-the-ground (also known as creeping charlie), purple dead nettle, henbit and chickweed provide sustenance for early bees, beetles, flies and wasps.
    Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • How did Passover and Easter sneak up on us so fast?
    Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2025
  • But a better travel pillow does all that and sneaks an extra day’s worth of clothing onto the plane without catching a gate agent’s attention.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Simpson visited the Menendez family’s home in the 1970s, even tossing a football with Lyle in the backyard.
    Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2025
  • The footage, captured at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, allegedly showed Ventura walking toward a bank of elevators as Combs chased after her, then grabbing her by the neck and tossing her to the floor before turning to violently kick her and grab her purse and suitcase.
    Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Developed over two years, the Serpenti Aeterna watch snaking around the wrist features a clasp closure mechanism and signature hexagonal scales etched in the inner contour.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2025
  • At the antiques shop, overflowing with bronze sculptures and ornate lamps, a train snakes through to dispense tea.
    Rachel Sherman, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wriggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wriggle. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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