squirm 1 of 2

verb

ˈskwərm How to pronounce squirm (audio)
Definition of squirmnext
as in to fidget
to make jerky or restless movements the toddler squirmed the whole time we were in the waiting room

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

squirm

2 of 2

noun

as in squirming

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of squirm
Verb
But the real pleasure is the 303 basslines that squirm in between the drums, coating the soundscapes of the tracks in grime and noxious soot. — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 1 July 2026 With the contact patch sliding and squirming, the brakes had less to work with—and the car took just enough extra distance to end in an impact. — Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Noun
Visibly anxious and more than a little drunk, Emma proceeds to offer up a confession that marks the point of no return in writer-director Kristoffer Borgli’s divisive squirm comedy. — Megan McCluskey, Time, 3 Apr. 2026 Packed with numerous squirm-worthy scenes and strong commentary on impossible beauty standards, this film is best watched when the clock strikes midnight. — Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for squirm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squirm
  1. fidget
  2. squirming
  3. twitch
  4. writhing
  5. toss
  6. twitching
  7. jerk
  8. wriggling
Verb
  • At about 45 minutes in, guests were looking at their phones and fidgeting in their seats.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 25 July 2026
  • A lot of those people have Victoria Baumann and Charlie Moreton to thank, the father-daughter duo behind Victoria Essie Studio that produces fidget toys and other knickknacks out of their homes in North Carolina.
    — Jennifer Liu Valentina Duarte, CNBC, 14 June 2026
Definition of fidget
Noun
  • Jost proceeded to read them — as usual squirming while doing it.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 21 Dec. 2025
Definition of squirming
Verb
  • The muscles in Lola Petticrew’s face twitch ever so slightly, indicating Catherine’s excitement that the police are now in possession of this picture.
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Green said his symptoms began when his feet started twitching in his sleep.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
Definition of twitch
Noun
  • Throughout the writhing and the screaming, Julia’s fortitude wears down a defiant Davina, whose history with Lovat feeds the moment.
    — Hunter Ingram, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
Definition of writhing
Verb
  • The slab was too heavy to toss aside, and Osorio was worried there could be more people trapped underneath.
    — Rocio Munoz, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Taylor Walls homered from both sides of the plate for the second time in his career, Nick Martinez tossed a complete game and the Tampa Bay Rays won their eighth straight game, 12-4 over the Athletics on Tuesday night.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of toss
Noun
  • Casting near banks and using a twitching technique can increase success during the hatch.
    — Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026
  • During this phase, octopuses display visible twitching along with rapid changes in skin color and texture, per NPR.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of twitching
Verb
  • But in 1933, within a matter of days, they were jerked back into reality.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Stuttering lines, on the left, jerking up and down, denote the rattle of guns; on the right, the lines are all but flat, as silence descends.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of jerk
Noun
  • Barnard attended the ceremony with Soprano, Lola’s female stand-in and a convincing lookalike, who accepted the collar with considerable enthusiasm and even more considerable wriggling.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Definition of wriggling

Browse Nearby Words

squiring
squirm
squirmed
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Cite this Entry

“Squirm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squirm. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of squirm for Spanish Speakers

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