wriggle
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.
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.
act of wriggling; a wriggling movement.
Origin of wriggle
1Other words from wriggle
- wrig·gling·ly, adverb
- outwriggle, verb (used with object), out·wrig·gled, out·wrig·gling.
- un·wrig·gled, adjective
Words Nearby wriggle
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
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 PostBack 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 | DigidayLike 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 | THE DAILY BEASTThe Fishermen, like thieves, shake out their silver,/ the lithe knives wriggle on the drying sand.
The question is whether Netanyahu believes that he can wriggle his way out of serious peace negotiations once again.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd most of us felt compelled to find a witty repartee while trying to wriggle out of his clutches.
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 KellandHis mind worked more freely when his toes were unconfined, so that he might wriggle them as he reasoned.
Scattergood Baines | Clarence Budington KellandScattergood was thinking, and to think, with him, meant so to unfetter his feet that he could wriggle his toes pleasurably.
Scattergood Baines | Clarence Budington KellandAnother wriggle took him past the back, but it also gave Clowes time to catch him up.
The Gold Bat | P. G. WodehouseWith 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
/ (ˈrɪɡəl) /
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 means: wriggle out of an embarrassing situation
a wriggling movement or action
a sinuous marking or course
Origin of wriggle
1Derived forms of wriggle
- wriggler, noun
- wriggly, adjective
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
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