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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of squirm
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2025
Rod Laver Arena too was flat, the crowd squirming around awkwardly, trying to figure out what to cheer for.
—Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
Arrogant Backing yourself fully makes others squirm.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
Stars hit the exits as newsroom leaders squirm Executive Editor Matt Murray and Editorial Page Editor David Shipley repeatedly find themselves in difficult positions.
—David Folkenflik, NPR, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for squirm 
Verb
An unholy chatter fills the soundtrack and what appears to be dozens upon dozens of shiny black bugs squirming and gnashing as each other.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2025
Rod Laver Arena too was flat, the crowd squirming around awkwardly, trying to figure out what to cheer for.
—Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
Arrogant Backing yourself fully makes others squirm.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
Stars hit the exits as newsroom leaders squirm Executive Editor Matt Murray and Editorial Page Editor David Shipley repeatedly find themselves in difficult positions.
—David Folkenflik, NPR, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for squirm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squirm
Verb
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Rosenkrantz is played in the two-hander by Rebecca Hall with warmth and humor and a physical ease that makes Linda much more centered and self-contained than Whishaw’s chain-smoking, often fidgeting Peter.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
27 Jan. 2025
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Closed, tight arms can convey anger or resentment, and slouching, fidgeting and a limp handshake might convey a lack of confidence.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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When a fish swims by, the snake twitches its neck, a movement so rapid that it can only be captured on high-speed film.—
Ryley Graham,
Smithsonian Magazine,
29 Jan. 2025
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In other words, the version of the Democratic Party that got killed in 2024 is still twitching.—
Philip Elliott,
TIME,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The day before the crash that took his life, BB tossed three touchdowns in a 64-6 rout of Custer County.—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
16 Feb. 2025
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The water on one side of the beach and the Pacific Coast Highway on the other help impede fire spread, but strong gusts—like last month’s infamous Santa Ana winds—can still toss embers and flaming debris across the highway.—
Monica Hunter-Hart,
Forbes,
16 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Musk then put his hand over his heart before jerking his arm out, straight and stiff with his palm down in a manner that resembled a Nazi or Roman military salute.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
20 Jan. 2025
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Instead of jerking the wheel or hitting the brakes, try to apply the brakes gently and steer smoothly.—
John Yoo and John Shu,
Newsweek,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Next, wiggle the brush up- and outward to ensure lashes are sufficiently and evenly coated.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2025
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Thus, ancient parents also knew the struggle that came with combing a wiggling child’s hair.—
Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi,
Discover Magazine,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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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
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Such is always the case with this sort of self-interested fiddling.—
Eric Gordy,
Foreign Affairs,
10 Oct. 2018
Verb
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While panelists like Sara Haines and Sunny Hostin jumped up from the table to show off their accessories — and even danced/gyrated/writhed behind the Hot Topics table while wearing them — Goldberg was stunned into silence upon first receiving hers.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
3 Feb. 2025
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When grabbed by a predator, these dice snakes writhe, vomit and poop before finally going limp.—
Ryley Graham,
Smithsonian Magazine,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Sometimes a less reliable dog will smell in this manner the hot body scent of venison as a trembling doe crouches close in the brush upwind.—
Frank C. Hibben,
Outdoor Life,
13 Feb. 2025
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As the solution flowed into both of his arms, Nelson at first trembled, then died in silence with his eyelids, on which dollar signs are tattooed, closed.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near squirm
Cite this Entry
“Squirm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squirm. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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