writhe

[ rahyth ]

See synonyms for: writhe writhed writhing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),writhed, writh·ing.

to twist the body about or squirm, as in pain, violent effort, uncontrolled passion, etc.
to shrink mentally, as in acute discomfort.

verb (used with object),writhed, writh·ing.

to twist or bend out of shape or position; distort; contort.
to twist (oneself, the body, etc.) about, as in pain.

noun

a writhing movement; a twisting of the body, as in pain.

Origin of writhe

First recorded before 900; Middle English writhen (verb), Old English wrīthan “to twist, wind”; cognate with Old Norse rītha “to knit, twist”; akin to wreath, wry

Other words for writhe

1	thresh, flail, contort, wriggle

See synonyms for writhe on Thesaurus.com

Other words from writhe

writh·er, noun

Words that may be confused with writhe

wraith, wreath, wreathe, writhe

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use writhe in a sentence

Harden, visibly in pain, writhed on the floor as World Peace was ejected from the game.
Metta World Peace, David Beckham, and More Flagrant Fouls in Sports | Brittany Jones-Cooper | April 24, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
In the back of the car, her neighbor shouted and writhed in pain.
Afghanistan's Appalling Pregnancy Deaths | Gayle Tzemach Lemmon | December 30, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
Snakes hung on his neck and arms and writhed through his belt loops.
Call Him Dirty Harry Potter | Lizzie Stark | April 8, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
Hamburg writhed impotent at his feet and the "heavy arm of justice fell on the canaille."
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-Pattison
He lay and writhed with pain and fear, and when he heard her in the next room, called to her, begging her to have pity on him.
Skipper Worse | Alexander Lange Kielland

Strong hands were on Zeyneb's shoulders, but he almost writhed out of them, and stood before Richard.
God Wills It! | William Stearns Davis
Azenor the Pale, writhed with pain under her iron fetters as the flames, reaching her limbs, set her robe and long hair on fire.
The Pilgrim's Shell or Fergan the Quarryman | Eugne Sue
Then a serpent of fire writhed along the fringe of the cloud mass and disappeared, followed by another sullen roar.
Menotah | Ernest G. Henham

British Dictionary definitions for writhe

writhe

/ (raɪð) /

verb

to twist or squirm in or as if in pain
(intr) to move with such motions

(intr) to suffer acutely from embarrassment, revulsion, etc

noun

the act or an instance of writhing

Origin of writhe

Old English wrīthan; related to Old High German rīdan, Old Norse rītha. See wrath, wreath, wrist, wroth

Derived forms of writhe

writher, noun

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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