wriggle

[ rig-uhl ]

/ ˈrɪg əl /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for wriggle on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), wrig·gled, wrig·gling.

to twist to and fro; writhe; squirm.

to move along by twisting and turning the body, as a worm or snake.

to make one's way by shifts or expedients (often followed by out): to wriggle out of a difficulty.

verb (used with object), wrig·gled, wrig·gling.

to cause to wriggle: to wriggle one's hips.

to bring, get, make, etc., by wriggling: to wriggle one's way through a narrow opening.

noun

act of wriggling; a wriggling movement.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of wriggle

1485–95; <Middle Low German wriggelen (cognate with Dutch wriggelen), frequentative of *wriggen to twist, turn, akin to Old English wrīgian to twist; see wry

OTHER WORDS FROM wriggle

wrig·gling·ly, adverboutwriggle, verb (used with object), out·wrig·gled, out·wrig·gling.un·wrig·gled, adjective

Words nearby wriggle

wretched, Wrexham, wrick, wrier, wriest, wriggle, wriggler, wrigglework, wriggly, wright, Wright brothers

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use wriggle in a sentence

If, after mashing the head of a fallacy, he passes triumphantly on, he is apt to go back, and pound at the innocuous reptile while there is a wriggle of life left in the tail.
The senator who said no to a seat on the Supreme Court — twice|Robert Mitchell|February 27, 2022|Washington Post
Back then, there was a lot more wriggle room for marketers to make their case.
It’s deja vu for marketers as Apple’s ATT causes consent headache|Seb Joseph|May 10, 2021|Digiday
Like Nadler, Cohen—who is also Jewish—substituted “Jewish” for “gay” and watched Riggle wriggle.
Right-Wing Activists: Yep, ‘Religious Freedom’ Protects Discrimination Against Jews|Jay Michaelson|June 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Fishermen, like thieves, shake out their silver,/ the lithe knives wriggle on the drying sand.
This Week’s Hot Reads: January 19th, 2014|Nicholas Mancusi|January 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The question is whether Netanyahu believes that he can wriggle his way out of serious peace negotiations once again.
Bibi In A Corner On Peace Process?|Carlo Strenger|February 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
To wriggle your way into private sessions with top industry execs?
Meeting Merkel, Schmoozing With Charlize: 10 Things You Need to Know About the World Economic Forum in Davos|Winston Ross|January 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And most of us felt compelled to find a witty repartee while trying to wriggle out of his clutches.
The DSK Case: Flirting, Groping, and Rape|Nina Sutton|May 24, 2011|DAILY BEAST
He could not wriggle a toe, which made his mental processes difficult, for his toes were first aids to his brain.
Scattergood Baines|Clarence Budington Kelland
His mind worked more freely when his toes were unconfined, so that he might wriggle them as he reasoned.
Scattergood Baines|Clarence Budington Kelland
Scattergood was thinking, and to think, with him, meant so to unfetter his feet that he could wriggle his toes pleasurably.
Scattergood Baines|Clarence Budington Kelland
Another wriggle took him past the back, but it also gave Clowes time to catch him up.
The Gold Bat|P. G. Wodehouse
With a convulsive wriggle of its tail it darted away in a panic.
The Watchers of the Trails|Charles G. D. Roberts

British Dictionary definitions for wriggle

wriggle

/ (ˈrɪɡəl) /

verb

to make or cause to make twisting movements

(intr) to progress by twisting and turning

(intr; foll by into or out of) to manoeuvre oneself by clever or devious meanswriggle out of an embarrassing situation

noun

a wriggling movement or action

a sinuous marking or course

Derived forms of wriggle

wriggler, nounwriggly, adjective

Word Origin for wriggle

C15: from Middle Low German; compare Dutch wriggelen

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

wriggle

Origin of wriggle

OTHER WORDS FROM wriggle

Words nearby wriggle

Words related to wriggle

How to use wriggle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for wriggle

Derived forms of wriggle

Word Origin for wriggle