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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in squirming
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of squirm
Emily Brooks, The Hill, 8 May 2025
This can prepare your body to safely move things without straining your spine, whether that be a bag of yard clippings, a squirming child, or a box of books.
—Christa Sgobba, SELF, 4 June 2025
His wire-to-wire tenacity made Benet squirm until the final split-second had ticked off the clock.
—Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025
But Carney squirmed a bit as Trump riffed on his contentious plan for the U.S. to gobble up Canada.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for squirm
Noun
The prospect is fueling Democratic messaging against the bill — and making moderate Republicans and those in competitive districts squirm.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 8 May 2025
This can prepare your body to safely move things without straining your spine, whether that be a bag of yard clippings, a squirming child, or a box of books.
—Christa Sgobba, SELF, 4 June 2025
His wire-to-wire tenacity made Benet squirm until the final split-second had ticked off the clock.
—Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025
But Carney squirmed a bit as Trump riffed on his contentious plan for the U.S. to gobble up Canada.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for squirm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squirm
Verb
-
Drone footage obtained by Brazilian outlet TV Brasil EBC appeared to show Marins sitting in the grey sand conscious and fidgeting.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
4 July 2025
-
In your experience, do people fidget to purposely get non-conclusive results?—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
8 July 2025
Verb
-
This is why after a snake is killed, its body will still twitch and move around, and why its head can still bite.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 July 2025
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At times, Woods reminds me of 2025 Cleveland Browns first-rounder Mason Graham, with the quickness and twitch to play just about anywhere along a defensive front and the power/hand speed to be a three-down weapon at either spot inside.—
Nick Baumgardner,
New York Times,
10 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
-
Having already had to navigate a 180-degree turn around a roundabout at 80km per hour, the road jerked to the left with around 1.6km remaining and, with some riders forced wide, the group was split.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
-
The passenger jerked forward and their belongings were thrown to the floor.—
Abhirup Roy,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
Verb
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Some of the key moments in the match were: After a slow start dominated by Gunther, Punk nearly hit a GTS but Gunther wiggled out and almost locked in a sleeper before cutting off Gunther with a big boot.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
3 Aug. 2025
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Her thin limbs wiggled listlessly, and her small hand could barely grasp the finger of the nurse tending to her.—
Astha Rajvanshi,
NBC news,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
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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Muncy writhed on the ground in obvious pain before being helped to the clubhouse.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 July 2025
-
On damp nights, when the wind dies down and the temperature is just so, the fields fairly writhe with the pale, glistening constituents of Lumbricus terrestris surfacing from the depths to feed and mate.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
18 June 2025
Verb
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The word originally referred to trembling from fear or cold, and later came to describe earth tremors (as in earthquake).—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
-
The cobwebs under the jarrah tremble in the hot breeze; there are no beetles snagged in the webs today to rescue.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Squirm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squirm. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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