Showing results for "writhing"

• present participle of writhe.

writhing

American  

[rahy-thing] / ˈraɪ ðɪŋ /

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.

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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.

Other Word Forms

• writhingly
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of writhing

First recorded in 1350–1400; writh(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; writh(e) ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses

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Explanation

Writhing is a snake- or worm-like movement — a rolling and twisting motion, like your writhing brother who can't stand to have his feet tickled. When you picture a wreath, you probably think of a festive decoration hanging on someone's front door. So it might surprise you that this word shares its origin with writhing, a word that often describes a reaction to pain or extreme discomfort. The wreathes of today are rings — originally, a wreath was a bandage that wrapped around and around. Writhing is also a rolling, or circular motion.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

writhing

Late last month, an Indonesia-based wildlife foundation shared footage showing an orangutan writhing on the ground on a palm oil plantation in West Kalimantan, one of Indonesia's hardest-hit provinces.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

While fishing a canal, I spot an otter as it emerges from the water and climbs onto the opposite bank, clutching a writhing iguana in its paws and then diving back in.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

Across the globe, Florence is wrenching Freddie from writhing on the floor to buck him up for the imminent match.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 17, 2025

And that’s kind of what happened until her final hours when her breathing became so labored she was writhing and wrenching herself upright trying to get air.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2025

He tried not to think of how it had gone on writhing and lashing about, without any water.

From "I'm the King of the Castle" by Susan Hill

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