squiggle

1 of 2

verb

squig·​gle ˈskwi-gəl 

squiggled; squiggling ˈskwi-g(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: squirm, wriggle

squiggling in her seat

2

: to write or paint hastily : scribble

transitive verb

1

: scribble

2

: to form or cause to form in squiggles

squiggle

2 of 2

noun

: a short wavy twist or line : curlicue

especially : an illegible scrawl

squiggly

ˈskwi-g(ə-)lē 

adjective

Synonyms of squiggle

Verb

• twitch
• fidget
• toss
• squirm
• jerk
• wiggle
• twist
• fiddle

Examples of squiggle in a Sentence

Verb

a pediatrician's waiting room full of squiggling toddlers

there are some illegible notes squiggled in the margins of the old book

Noun

His handwriting looks like a bunch of squiggles.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

For me, this breakfast isn’t complete without a healthy squirt of sriracha squiggled across the entire plate. — Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 July 2026

Even more special, one of our trip-goers designed the tattoo, an amphora decorated with Blackjack the pegasus and the signature squiggle from the chapters. — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 17 June 2026

Noun

Since then Parker has departed slightly from her original squiggle-core ceramics to design a jewelry collection, a rug collection, a Lulu and Georgia furniture collection, and—as of today—a 12-piece lighting collection with the same retailer. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 30 Sep. 2026

The results — displayed in rows of blurry squiggles on the radar diagrams — showed more than 100 distinct graves beneath the small-dog park, with more likely located underneath the road, where GPR could not reach. — Oliver Wu, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

blend of squirm and wriggle

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1816, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1900, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for squiggle

• giggle
• jiggle
• wiggle
• wriggle

Kids Definition

squiggle

noun

squig·​gle

ˈskwig-əl

: a short wavy twist or line : curlicue