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:
Mr. Hara and Ms. Kobayashi, partners in life and work, use film to explore uncomfortable topics and invite viewers to watch and squirm.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Instead, each of the three attempted to squirm out of a simple yes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 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
Is there like a line you won’t cross in terms of squirm factor?
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 8, 2026
“She doesn’t seem to like you, Hendrik,” Mother said as Nhamo tried to squirm out of her grasp.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
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
Somehow he squirms his way to the safest harbor while everyone else scrambles.
From Salon ● May 15, 2023
Saqib Mahmood squirms slightly in his seat as an awkward, embarrassed smile sweeps across his face.
From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2022
A video of their reunion shows her hugging the pup at baggage claim as he grunts and squirms with joy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 18, 2022
My eyes volley between her and the princess, who squirms and fusses with the ruffles of her dress.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
With each stride, I squirmed deeper into the Florsheims’ tapered toes in a vain effort to spare my chafing heels.
From Slate ● Jun. 5, 2026
But he squirmed his way through a celebratory montage of his biggest songs.
From BBC ● Feb. 2, 2026
I squirmed, then froze in my chair, trying to conceal my cringe.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 11, 2025
Internally, Gabriela Jaquez squirmed each time she heard the praise.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 29, 2025
The rest of us would pile in the back, exchanging kicks and pinches under the protection of the lap robe as we squirmed around trying to make more room.
From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
He guides me inside a warehouse full of vast, bubbling water tanks and heaves out a haul of the squirming, long, thin black fish.
From BBC ● Apr. 12, 2026
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
Six chilling charts to send investors squirming this Hallowe’en.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 31, 2025
Nate, Auggie’s dad, was sitting on one of the kitchen chairs, holding a squirming, crazy yellow dog in his lap.
From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio
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.
