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 Rescuing the cat was quite a pursuit, requiring Ruff and both his sons to move the bed and wriggle their pet free. Rachel Raposas, People.com, 11 July 2025 Scientists have captured the first videos of wild roundworms forming living, wriggling towers that behave as one big superorganism By Jacek Krywko edited by Allison Parshall Join Our Community of Science Lovers! Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 5 June 2025 Hey, speaking of renovations, any of y’all spot any wriggling tendrils in the pipes? EW.com, 28 Apr. 2025 Erecting his sail-like, iridescent dorsal fin, the mudskipper wriggles his stout tail and launches himself into the air before falling back to earth with an unceremonious plop. Skylar Knight, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for wriggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wriggle
Verb
  • And all those passengers squirming around makes driving more difficult because of the constantly changing weight balance.
    George Skelton, Mercury News, 2 July 2025
  • Not only do these votes make individual Republicans squirm, but they can be used for attack ads when a senator is up for reelection.
    Erin Doherty, CNBC, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Insects and other pests like rodents can easily crawl inside and make themselves at home.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 July 2025
  • This remains a place where crabs crawl out of the water at sunset, stingrays swim around surfers in the Pacific, and languidly smiling sloths—the national mascot—remind us all to slow down.
    Laura Dannen Redman, AFAR Media, 16 July 2025
Verb
  • To my great embarrassment, the Velvet Sundown’s songs even managed to worm their way into my brain.
    Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 4 July 2025
  • The flea larvae, which look like tiny maggots, worm their way into the carpet or mattress, feeding on the flea dirt that their parents left behind, says Benson.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Buzzing, tingling, burning, twitching, itching or pain, along with a sensation of arousal.
    Linda Carroll, NBC news, 6 July 2025
  • The fearful pup stepped out to greet her, his tail twitching—his first show of trust in a long time.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 2025
Verb
  • Battling Tool Sprawl Decision fatigue creeps in when consultants juggle a dozen unintegrated AI assistants, each with its own prompt syntax, data connectors and permission model.
    Noah Ohrner, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • From the Viking Mars orbiters and landers of the 1970s through the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers, which are still operating today, the Red Planet has crept from the dreadful waste seen by Mariner 4 to a place once covered in shallow oceans and with a possibly temperate atmosphere.
    Rod Pyle, Space.com, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • This snack is a great way to sneak even more protein into your kid’s diet.
    Stephanie Ganz, Parents, 15 July 2025
  • Dianne witnessed Tiffany sneaking the card into her back pocket and confronted her.
    Alex Gurley, People.com, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • Don't toss your wine corks—put them to use in your garden!
    Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2025
  • Just pulse the fillet in a food processor until finely chopped, then toss it with fresh, whole-wheat breadcrumbs (made in the same processor), as well as ginger, garlic, scallion and cilantro.
    The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2025
Verb
  • Her group of spies, scouts, and other freedom fighters piloted three Union steamboats snaking up the lower Combahee River with Colonel James Montgomery of the Second South Carolina Volunteers and one battery of the Third Rhode Island Artillery.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
  • Younger sister Elle wore a black silk slip dress that hit just below the knee, with sheer straps and panelling that snaked down the bodice with light embroidery, paired with black kitten heels and a small rectangular clutch bag.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 16 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wriggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wriggle. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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