squiggle

American  

[skwig-uhl] / ˈskwɪg əl /

noun

1. a short, irregular curve or twist, as in writing or drawing.

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verb (used without object)

squiggled, squiggling

1. to move in or appear as squiggles.

   His handwriting squiggled across the page.

verb (used with object)

squiggled, squiggling

1. to form in or cause to appear as squiggles; scribble.

squiggle British  

/ ˈskwɪɡəl /

noun

1. a mark or movement in the form of a wavy line; curlicue

2. an illegible scrawl

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verb

1. (intr) to wriggle

2. (intr) to form or draw squiggles

3. (tr) to make into squiggles

Other Word Forms

• squiggler
  noun
• squiggly
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of squiggle

First recorded in 1830–40; blend of squirm and wriggle

Explanation

A squiggle is a curly, looping line, like the squiggle that serves as your signature when you sloppily sign your name. If you can't read someone's writing, you can call it a squiggle or a scrawl. You can also use squiggle to describe decorative accents or drawn designs, like squiggles of paint in modern art or ornamental squiggles in the pattern on your sofa. Squiggle originated in the early 19th century and was initially used a verb derived from wriggle and squirm.

Example Sentences

Richards’s signature style is to break down complex behavioral-finance concepts into minimalist line drawings — sometimes just a squiggle — with only a few words.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 16, 2026

"That's what happened here. We had all sort of noticed this fishhook squiggle on the rock. It was pretty prominent because it was really, really deep."

From Science Daily • Nov. 18, 2024

In other scenes, such as one where he's specifically asked his name, squiggle lines appear over his lips, suggesting that a spell has been cast to prevent him from revealing himself.

From Salon • Sep. 19, 2024

I prefer a sprinkling of salt, a bed of raw onions and cilantro and a squiggle of green salsa.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 28, 2024

“I’d seen it before, but I didn’t think of it as an E then, just a squiggle that looked like writing. There are all these rocks that look like they’re covered with writing.”

From "The City of Ember" by Jeanne DuPrau