1
as in to weave
to cause to twine about one another
tends to writhe his fingers together when he's nervous or upset
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to squirm
to make jerky or restless movements
writhing in pain from his injuries
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of writhe
The process involves a writhing dance that looks a lot like the dance that male and female sunfish perform with each other prior to breeding.
—
Elizabeth Kolbert,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Adams, for one, spent a fair portion of the first half on the grass, writhing in pain.
—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
20 June 2026
Even as Chisholm spent several minutes on the ground writhing in pain, a few of his teammates, including Judge, Grisham and Clarke Schmidt, couldn’t help but smirk at his misfortune.
—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2026
And just as the image of black people beaten for trying to cross a bridge resonated beyond our community, the image of a Palestinian hooked up to an IV, writhing in agony and burning alive, resonates far beyond theirs.
—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for writhe
Elizabeth Kolbert,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Adams, for one, spent a fair portion of the first half on the grass, writhing in pain.
—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
20 June 2026
Even as Chisholm spent several minutes on the ground writhing in pain, a few of his teammates, including Judge, Grisham and Clarke Schmidt, couldn’t help but smirk at his misfortune.
—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2026
And just as the image of black people beaten for trying to cross a bridge resonated beyond our community, the image of a Palestinian hooked up to an IV, writhing in agony and burning alive, resonates far beyond theirs.
—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for writhe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for writhe
Verb
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Experienced vine dressers weave the canes into basket-like forms that rest close to the island’s volcanic soil, protecting grapes from wind and harsh conditions.
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Wingate weaves this historical horror with a modern-day mystery, illustrating the lasting trauma of children stolen for profit and the unbreakable bond of blood.
Verb
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With the contact patch sliding and squirming, the brakes had less to work with—and the car took just enough extra distance to end in an impact.
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Unless your companion could use a hand or is traveling with young kids (in the latter case, if this person also happens to be your spouse or partner, really not cool to leave them with the stroller, diaper bag, squirming kids).
Verb
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In other words, the metaphorical coin must be weighted—in this case, by hominins doing things on purpose, like laying their dead to rest in the narrow, twisting darkness of Rising Star.
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Cellphone video first obtained by TMZ and verified by NBC News shows the boy twist and shoot down the waterfall just behind a ride vehicle filled with parkgoers.
Verb
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There is something cultish about that idea — the player who tends not to start but has the knack to appear later on with antennae twitching, ready to seize the day and alter the course of a match.
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Leon Stetson was allegedly twitching, so officers moved him away from Carrie Stetson and started to render medical aid.
Verb
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Rubio has tried to separate the Israel-Lebanon talks from the US-Iran negotiations, even as Iran has repeatedly insisted that the issues are entwined.
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The story of Nott Cott is entwined with the story of Kensington Palace itself.
Verb
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In addition to having lofty themes, this is also a fairly rousing adventure with enough visual panache to keep any kid from fidgeting in his seat.
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A lot of those people have Victoria Baumann and Charlie Moreton to thank, the father-daughter duo behind Victoria Essie Studio that produces fidget toys and other knickknacks out of their homes in North Carolina.
Verb
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Contreras was tossed immediately, while Red Sox outfielder Nate Eaton, interim manager Chad Tracy and Washington pitcher Miles Mikolas were all sent to the showers early.
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Guardians rookie Cooper Ingle made a routine catch last night and tossed the ball into the stands.
Verb
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Watching their relationship devolve (never more so than when their sperm donor, a rakish, motorcycle-driving restaurant owner played by Mark Ruffalo, enters the scene) is most definitely a tear-jerking experience, as is the film’s final scene.
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Some were petty — like Reese committing a foul against Clark, then jerking her head back, impersonating Clark as a flopper.
Cite this Entry
“Writhe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/writhe. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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