squirm

verb

squirmed; squirming; squirms

intransitive verb

: to twist about like a worm : fidget
squirm noun
squirmy adjective

Examples of squirm in a Sentence

The baby squirmed a lot when I tried to hold him. She squirmed under her father's angry stare. The children squirmed with delight. He tried to hold onto her but she squirmed free. The frog squirmed out of his hands. The gory details of the story had me squirming in my seat.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The pediatric dentist must use his or her unique expertise to make split-second decisions when a six-year-old child is squirming in the chair. Chris Westfall, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024 Lauren Goode: At this point, Zuckerberg is squirming in his seat. Lauren Goode, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2024 Other images showed Frankel, who wore a red beanie, kissing their newborn daughter as Sidibe rested her head on his shoulder, carrying their squirming baby boy. Hannah Sacks, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024 Seated at a table, each tribe was presented with a bowl of live, squirming grubs in dirt. Emily Nussbaum, Vulture, 5 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for squirm 

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

circa 1691, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of squirm was circa 1691

Dictionary Entries Near squirm

Cite this Entry

“Squirm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squirm. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

squirm

verb
1
: to twist about like an eel or a worm
squirmed in their seats
2
: to feel very embarrassed
undeserved praise made us squirm
squirmy adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on squirm

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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