as in to fidget
to make jerky or restless movements
the toddler squirmed the whole time we were in the waiting room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in squirming
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of squirm
Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 9 Oct. 2024
Best Phil sight gag: squirming at the touch of cold passion paint.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 29 Sep. 2024
In here, children squirm over parents’ laps as old men sip strong tea to punctuate intense exchanges.
—Kurt Johnson, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2024
Talking About Money With Your Partner as a Single Parent
Discussing finances can make people squirm.
—Sarah Bregel, Parents, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for squirm 
Verb
Bacteria and other small creatures squirming inside bodies often have to propel themselves through thick, viscous environments.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 9 Oct. 2024
Best Phil sight gag: squirming at the touch of cold passion paint.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 29 Sep. 2024
In here, children squirm over parents’ laps as old men sip strong tea to punctuate intense exchanges.
—Kurt Johnson, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2024
Talking About Money With Your Partner as a Single Parent
Discussing finances can make people squirm.
—Sarah Bregel, Parents, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for squirm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squirm
Verb
-
Recruiters advise paying attention to your facial and body language and refraining from slouching, fidgeting and a limp handshake that can convey a lack of confidence.Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
-
In the background, Endrick listened nervously to Perez, fidgeting and rubbing his hands together.Mario Cortegana, The Athletic, 27 July 2024
Verb
-
Low-voltage emissions cause the prey to involuntarily twitch.Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
-
Locals twitched at their curtains and looked outside.James Horncastle, The Athletic, 2 July 2024
Verb
-
Prep Potatoes In a large bowl, toss potatoes and onion with reserved bacon drippings, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Dec. 2024
-
Trump and his legal team want the conviction tossed, citing a variety of factors including their claim that he is shielded by presidential immunity.Ted Johnson, Deadline, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Your limbs, or even your entire upper body, may jerk or thrash in the process.Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2024
-
Yanking a zipper shut is more likely to break teeth or jerk the slider off the track.Joe Jackson, Outside Online, 17 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
Block off an hour in your calendar just to wiggle your toes.Meghana Indurti, The New Yorker, 3 Dec. 2024
-
About 10 minutes later the pup comes out of the house licking his lips, walking back home with a full belly, and a happy, wiggling tail.Dan Perry, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
Such is always the case with this sort of self-interested fiddling.Eric Gordy, Foreign Affairs, 10 Oct. 2018
-
Saturday Fiddle Contest: 11 a.m. at Alyeska Pipeline Colony Stage Grab your fiddle and play a tune or just check out some of the state’s best sawing on their instruments in a number of categories, including youth, teen, open and twin fiddling.Chris Bieri, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Aug. 2023
Verb
-
In the film, Depp’s Ellen violently writhes during Orlok’s perverse subconscious visits to her, and her filmmaker was determined to use as little CGI as possible for these demanding sequences.Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 13 Dec. 2024
-
Young Mohammed, peppered with shrapnel, writhing in agony in a makeshift hospital.Ian Pannell, ABC News, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The one man who should have been there was Daddy, but in his place stood a photographer who, trembling, held the camera and filmed these moments for Daddy.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
-
Dramatically reenacting the scene in the special, Foxx’s legs tremble, his eyes wide.Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near squirm
Cite this Entry
“Squirm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squirm. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share