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
The man is seen swooping in, cradling Jabal, who seems to be squirming in the man's arms. — Andrew Ramos, CBS News, 13 Sep. 2026 Where Raphael’s infant Christ is plump, acquiescent, docile, Cassatt’s children squirm, resist, and ignore authority. — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 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
  • Following this concern, 55% of parents said their top concern was their child’s ability to complete multistep tasks such as homework while 45% of parents cited fidgeting.
    — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The current boom is driven by Gen Z’s openness about mental health, social-commerce virality on TikTok and Etsy, and a broader nervous-system regulation movement that treats fidgeting as a legitimate coping tool rather than a bad habit.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 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
  • During the test, Linton jerked and twitched in what prosecutors described as an attempt to fake a seizure.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • When a sensor detected the left or right forelimb moving, the hub sent a limb-specific pulse through the body that reached an implant on the corresponding hind leg, which stimulated the sciatic nerve and made that leg twitch.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 30 Sep. 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
  • Kingsolver followed Unsheltered with Demon Copperhead, a retelling of David Copperfield about an Appalachian orphan tossed around the foster system after losing his mother to an overdose.
    — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Tarik Skubal tossed six dominant innings in triple-digit heat, Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker and Max Muncy homered and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 in Game 1 of their NL Division Series on Saturday.
    — Beth Harris, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 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
  • During the test, Linton jerked and twitched in what prosecutors described as an attempt to fake a seizure.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • And like any great sitcom, Friends runs the gamut from numbing brain-rot to tear-jerking sentimentality.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 9 Sep. 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 9 Oct. 2026.

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