jiggling 1 of 3

as in shaking
a series of slight movements by a body back and forth or from side to side the nerve-rattling jiggling we got when we drove over the railroad tracks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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jiggling

2 of 3

adjective

jiggling

3 of 3

verb

present participle of jiggle

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 jiggling
Noun
The merging and jiggling sends ripples called gravitational waves cascading outward through the fabric of the universe and to detectors here on Earth. Matt Von Hippel, Quanta Magazine, 27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Its apparently smooth screen quickly dissolves into a jiggling lattice of molecules, which in turn resolve into clouds of electrons buzzing around atomic nuclei. Quanta Magazine, 11 Mar. 2026 Every part of me that can jiggle is now jiggling. Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Sep. 2025 Some office workers recommend purchasing a mouse-jiggling device that keeps the cursor moving so you’re not dinged for idle time. Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
There is a difference between a teacher calming walking students through the procedure, versus having a police officer in tactical gear pounding on the door or jiggling the handle to check if it is locked. James Densley, The Conversation, 29 Apr. 2026 Young Michael has little confidence and goes through the motions of performance, not so much dancing as jiggling in place. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 21 Apr. 2026 In our everyday world, particles are always jiggling and rotating due to their thermal energy. Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026 Then, using lasers, the researchers chilled the atoms to near absolute zero to stop them from jiggling. Paul Sutter, Space.com, 18 Jan. 2026 Some employees are guilty of coffee badging, or even jiggling their mouses to look active while working remotely. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025 Video shows the trio standing ominously in the front yard before taking turns ringing the bell, knocking on the door and, at one point, jiggling its handle. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jiggling
Noun
  • Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026
Adjective
  • The cheesecake rises like a souffle, with a jiggly center and a beautiful brown crust.
    Amisha Gurbani, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Place the pie on the heated stone or skillet and bake until the edges are set and the center is still slightly jiggly, 40 to 50 minutes.
    Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Physical tics can be as subtle as eye blinking, or involve jerking the arms, or stretching the neck.
    Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026
  • Avoid jerking the floss or aggressive movements; instead, use smooth, gentle motions.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • Pekara said hospital surveillance footage captured him fidgeting under the blanket.
    Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
  • 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
  • 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
Adjective
  • For years, many ​of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority have embarked on rickety wooden ​boats to try to reach neighbouring countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, ‌in ⁠a bid to flee persecution in Myanmar or overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Your sunnies should be comfortable and durable, not rickety!
    Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The series opens as City’s record-breaking run of 26 games unbeaten comes to a shuddering halt, with a string of defeats in late 2024 leaving Guardiola visibly shaken.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 8 June 2026
  • That brewery is taking over Headflyer's space after closing its own Nordeast taproom in 2023, then shuddering entirely last year before rising from the ashes months later.
    Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • The Cubs’ Javier Assad, by contrast, shut down the Giants’ offense for a second straight outing, tossing six scoreless innings with five strikeouts to one walk.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 13 June 2026
  • As the place’s name implies, soccer is televised, but can be overshadowed by horseracing events that leave locals tossing their betting forms in frustration.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Jiggling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jiggling. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.

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