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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of writhe
No one concerned that this woman was clearly writhing in pain.
—
Literary Hub, 8 May 2026
Both men were down, writhing in pain once again.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Their struggle has upturned the tabletop candle that illuminates the scene and any moment will surely extinguish it, effacing the giddy pattern formed by the writhing bodies and glowing, veiny bladder skin.
—Julian Bell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
The result left Adebayo writhing in pain, having to be helped off the court, unable to return.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for writhe
Literary Hub, 8 May 2026
Both men were down, writhing in pain once again.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Their struggle has upturned the tabletop candle that illuminates the scene and any moment will surely extinguish it, effacing the giddy pattern formed by the writhing bodies and glowing, veiny bladder skin.
—Julian Bell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
The result left Adebayo writhing in pain, having to be helped off the court, unable to return.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for writhe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for writhe
Verb
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Rasmus Dahlin scored 32 seconds into the game on a nifty backhand after weaving through Montreal’s zone.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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Sarah George is the pastry chef at The Palmerston—a beloved Edinburgh restaurant—who seamlessly weaves whisky into classic recipes.—
Carinne Geil Botta,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Belloumi’s 64th-minute strike with his left foot broke the deadlock in the second game of the two-leg affair and Gelhardt made sure with a low shot that squirmed past the Millwall goalkeeper.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 May 2026
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For moist at least, a long history as a word associated with bodily discharge coupled with its more recent use as a sexualized word positioned it as one that makes young modern women squirm more than men.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The fantasy comedy twisted the types of fairy tales that Disney was known for with cruder and sillier humor and centered a grumpy ogre journeying to save a princess.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
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Don't twist or yank the tick to remove it.—
Finch Walker,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
My jaw twitched uncontrollably.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
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Here, American fighter planes, cargo ships and Japanese freighters have spent decades transforming into thriving artificial reefs, draped in coral and surrounded by twitching clouds of tropical fish.—
Dea Jusufi,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Alcohol can feel deeply entwined in our lives.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
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This low-key threshold perfectly sums up the essence of Kuraya—quietly crafted and entwined in the historic threads of its location.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Pekara said hospital surveillance footage captured him fidgeting under the blanket.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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Each chair is equipped with an exercise band around the legs to allow children to kick and fidget safely while sitting.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The victim described, matter-of-factly, how her trafficker had cut up jalapeños and tossed them into a toilet before banging her head against the inside of the bowl and dunking it into the water.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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And while tossing and turning is common, some disturbances are more unsettling.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
Verb
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According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of seizures can include short-term confusion, staring spells, stiff muscles and jerking movements of the arms and legs.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
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Avoid jerking the floss or aggressive movements; instead, use smooth, gentle motions.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Writhe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/writhe. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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