writhe
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
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to twist or squirm in or as if in pain
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(intr) to move with such motions
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(intr) to suffer acutely from embarrassment, revulsion, etc
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have writhedperfect
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has writhedperfect 3rd person singular
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has been writhingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am writhingprogressive 1st person singular
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have been writhingperfect progressive
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writhingparticiple
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is writhingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are writhingprogressive
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writhessingular 3rd person
Past
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had writhedperfect
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writhedparticiple
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was writhingprogressive singular
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were writhingprogressive plural
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had been writhingperfect progressive
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writhedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of writhe
First recorded before 900; Middle English writhen (verb), Old English wrīthan “to twist, wind”; cognate with Old Norse rītha “to knit, twist”; akin to wreath, wry
Explanation
To writhe is to squirm and twist. Often you'll see the phrase "to writhe in agony." Writhe when you've just ingested some stomach-wrenching poison, or perhaps in response to red ant stings. Writhe stems from the Old English, meaning "to twist or bend." It's not a coincidence that a Christmas wreath is greenery twisted and bent into a circle. A person can writhe in embarrassment but it's usually reserved for times when pain or discomfort cause you to twist and bend over and squirm because your body is in such distress.
Vocabulary lists containing writhe
List 8
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"Of Mice and Men"
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Inside Out & Back Again
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
O ye, whom wrath consumes! who, passion-stung, Writhe at defeat, and nurse your agonies!
From Keats: Poems Published in 1820 by Robertson, M. (Margaret)
Poor unpardonable length, All belly to the mouth, Writhe then and wriggle, If there's joy in it!
From The Last Harvest by Burroughs, John
I hated him! but felt a living goad Writhe and crawl beneath my bosom—shameful burden! sinful load!
From The Continental Monthly, Vol 3 No 3, March 1863 Devoted To Literature And National Policy by Various
Writhe and wriggle as he might, he could not squeeze through.
From The Gray Phantom's Return by Landon, Herman
The monster to confront, at first, The spell of Four must be rehears'd; Salamander shall kindle, Writhe nymph of the wave, In air sylph shall dwindle, And Kobold shall slave.
From Faust — Part 1 by Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
