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

Example Sentences

On one run in the third quarter, Hernando barreled to the ground after a 10-yard gain — writhing in pain , forcing an injury timeout.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 29, 2025

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

The ghost of Gaga past re-emerges for Perfect Celebrity, writhing with camp energy in a shallow grave as she sings about the pressure and torture of stardom.

From BBC • Sep. 30, 2025

What about that time he poked with a blunt finger a writhing blob of beetle larvae massing on the top of a desert grass stem?

From Slate • Jul. 18, 2024

Shivering, Ranofer stared at the distant copper-brown figures writhing against the white wall.

From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw