writhing

[ rahy-thing ]
See synonyms for writhing on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. twisting about or squirming, as from pain, violent effort, uncontrolled passion, etc.: I saw a big red-tailed hawk carry a writhing blacksnake across the sky.

  2. feeling or expressing acute mental discomfort or distress: His words were a writhing mix of anger and confusion and he didn't spare her any of it.

noun
  1. an act or instance of twisting about or squirming: The writhing of these fly larvae around their food looks rather strange, but it turns out there's a reason for their wriggling.

  2. the state of feeling or act of expressing acute mental discomfort or distress: Perpetual fear and mistrust, inner pain, or the writhing of conscience may render a human existence worse than death.

Origin of writhing

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; writh(e) + -ing2 for the adjective senses; writh(e) + -ing1 for the noun senses

Other words from writhing

  • writh·ing·ly, adverb

Words Nearby writhing

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use writhing in a sentence