wiggle
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
-
a wiggling movement or course.
-
a wiggly line.
-
a dish of creamed fish or shellfish and peas.
idioms
verb
noun
-
the act or an instance of wiggling
-
slang to hurry up
Other Word Forms
- outwiggle verb (used with object)
- wiggler noun
- wiggly adjective
Etymology
Origin of wiggle
1175–1225; Middle English wiglen; akin to Old English wegan to move, wēg motion, wicga insect; compare Norwegian vigla to totter, frequentative of vigga to rock oneself, Dutch, Low German wiggelen
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.
Still, he noted that the Informatica deal will offer Salesforce “financial wiggle room” and added that the newly acquired business is likely to receive “ample airtime” on the earnings call.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 24, 2026
Meanwhile, lower-income households typically have tax bills that are already very low, leaving less wiggle room to reduce what they owe through deductions, the BofA analysts note.
From Barron's • Jan. 24, 2026
The Lower Woodies had a sparser insurance policy, but more wiggle room in its rules about rebuilding.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026
And I want to remind people to wiggle your toes.
From BBC • Jan. 2, 2026
“Now wiggle the stick in front of the little guy. Pretend you’re a fish or a snapping turtle or something.”
From "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine
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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.