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

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

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

As soon as Mahomes was left writhing on the ground and grabbing his knee late in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, it was clear he had sustained a serious injury.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 15, 2025

Moments later, the cat lays purring and writhing on the ground until it "dies".

From BBC • Nov. 12, 2024

James Garfield’s assassination in 1881 involved 79 days of writhing medical purgatory.

From Slate • Aug. 9, 2024

Because of all the time they’ve spent together this season, Rojas said he was sad and angry when he saw Betts writhing on the ground in pain Sunday, after being plunked by a 98-mph fastball.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2024

It was like when you lift a rock or a log in the forest and see the ground alive with a writhing mess of bugs and worms.

From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely