writhing

[rahy-thing]

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.

Other Word Forms

• writhingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of writhing¹

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

Example Sentences

Autumn’s body is writhing on the ground now, turning over repeatedly.

Read more on Literature

“I am having an epiphany about the poor,” Lady Constance proclaimed, stepping daintily over the writhing child.

Read more on Literature

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

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She’s one with the ground she’s walking, crawling and writhing on.

Read more on Salon

For the last weeks of her life, Natalie, now 44, watched her daughter writhing in agony as her bladder was stripped of its lining - a condition known as ketamine bladder syndrome.

Read more on BBC