squirm
Americanverb (used without object)
-
squirms,
present (3rd person singular)
-
squirmed,
past participle, past
-
squirming
present participle
noun
verb
-
to move with a wriggling motion; writhe
-
to feel deep mental discomfort, guilt, embarrassment, etc
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
squirmsimple
-
squirmssimple
-
have squirmedperfect
-
has squirmedperfect
-
am squirmingprogressive
-
are squirmingprogressive
-
is squirmingprogressive
-
have been squirmingperfect progressive
-
has been squirmingperfect progressive
Past
-
squirmedsimple
-
had squirmedperfect
-
was squirmingprogressive
-
were squirmingprogressive
-
had been squirmingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of squirm
First recorded in 1685–95; of expressive origin, perhaps echoing worm
Explanation
To squirm is to wiggle or twist your body, the way an excited puppy will squirm when you try to hold him in your arms. Small children and animals squirm from excitement or eagerness, while uncomfortable adults also sometimes squirm: "She was so upset by her friends' argument that she started to squirm in her chair." When the word squirm first appeared in the 17th century, it was used specifically to talk about eels. Experts aren't sure of its roots, but some guess squirm is connected to worm or swarm.
Vocabulary lists containing squirm
Spelling Practice, Unit 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"I Like Words": A Job Seeker's Brilliant Chutzpah
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
See Examples For:
It would be easy to take Emma’s confession as a simple cinematic provocation, a tone-deaf narrative device intended to make viewers squirm in their seats.
From Salon ● Apr. 3, 2026
The more George dotes on her, the more she tries to squirm free from the prison that has been prepared for her.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 25, 2026
Eight years later, he’s back in office, and giving soccer fans eager to watch the tournament this summer good reasons to squirm.
From Slate ● Jan. 28, 2026
“It’s better than the trophy…watching them squirm and having to just be the butt of all the jokes,” said Solomonson, who is on edge since he’s currently near the bottom of the standings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 7, 2025
Her lack of respect made me squirm in my seat, but a part of me respected her boldness.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
A new study from two University of Chicago scientists has revealed how HIV squirms its way into the nucleus as it invades a cell.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 25, 2024
The foot taps, the squirms in your seat, the arms thrown into the air with a mind of their own.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2023
Somehow he squirms his way to the safest harbor while everyone else scrambles.
From Salon ● May 15, 2023
Claireth Mendoza's six-year-old son Drake squirms in his mother's lap.
From Reuters ● Aug. 12, 2022
Odder still is the fact that its teddy bear arms are wrapped tightly around a roly-poly furball who squirms and makes noises—announcing to the world that he isn’t stuffed with fluff.
From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh
I squirmed, then froze in my chair, trying to conceal my cringe.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 11, 2025
“Mr. Patel was so anxious to take credit for finding Mr. Kirk’s assassin that he violated one of the basics of effective law enforcement,” Durbin explained as Patel squirmed.
From Salon ● Sep. 17, 2025
Sliding through the metal detectors, I overheard a sergeant explain how he put down his lunch, turned to grab a spoon, and, as he lifted the lid of his bowl, roaches squirmed underneath.
From Slate ● May 19, 2025
Internally, Gabriela Jaquez squirmed each time she heard the praise.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 29, 2025
Yuki squirmed out of my arms and stretched her neck out to sniff Jenna, who stayed very still.
From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence
Mr. Ireland indicates the uneven power dynamics involved when Leigh, though squirming at the idea, is needled into answering the same repulsive question, settling on Margaret Thatcher.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026
Paramount Skydance isn’t putting up too much of its own cash, but holy God is it adding a lot to the $14 billion in debt already squirming on its balance sheet.
From Slate ● Feb. 27, 2026
The conditions were near farcical, the ball frequently squirming through fingers and set-pieces a mess, with Scotland making the lion's share of blunders.
From BBC ● Feb. 7, 2026
Six chilling charts to send investors squirming this Hallowe’en.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 31, 2025
Zara squeals, transferring the squirming ball of black fluff into Jonah’s arms.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
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.
