wriggle Definition
wrig·gle (rig′əl)
intransitive verb -·gled, -·gling
- to move to and fro with a twisting, writhing motion; twist and turn; squirm
- to move along with a wriggling motion
- to make one's way by subtle or shifty means; dodge; equivocate to wriggle out of a difficulty
Etymology: MLowG wriggeln, akin to OFris wrigia: see wry
transitive verb
- to cause to wriggle
- to bring into a specified condition, form, etc. by wriggling
noun
a wriggling movement or action
wriggle Related Forms
wriggle Synonyms
wriggle Usage Examples
Object
- worm: And you'll also be loving every minute of that little wriggling worm in those nifty new clothes, even the nasty solid poo.
- round: With an incoherent howl he wriggled round and punched the policeman smartly in the stomach.
Converse of object
nest: From time to time she performs a nesting wriggle.
Modifies a noun
room: There does not seem to be much wriggle room there.
Modifying Another Word
- away: No more wriggling away, to help prevent your baby from falling from high surfaces.
- about: However, once we had calmed down, we noticed that both ends of little Wonday were still wriggling about on the table.
- still: However, Aladdin was still wriggling his legs, shaking them out of Imhotep's spell soon enough sans him knowing.
- back: Ross wriggled back to allow Joel a look, ' I want some action, I want some fun, me me me.. .
- then: Of name to try to wriggle then charged higher the most likely.
- n't: Ca n't wriggle out of giving a relative a gift?
Followed by an intransitive particle
- through: Feet first into the slot, chest in the water and wriggle through to - no go.
- around: Does having three mean you'll feel them wriggling around earlier?
- out: The only point to identify now is how the late payer will attempt to wriggle out of paying interest.
- down: Place the baby's feet at the bottom of the cot to prevent wriggling down under the covers.
- up: He won a lovely diving suit, From distant London Town, And tried to catch the tadpoles As they wriggled up and down.
Followed by a transitive particle
- off: Wriggling off this hook could take most of the day.
- up: Flames wriggled up the side of the garage like roaches.
Adjective complement
clear: Mayes finally wriggled clear of Fowler ( 101 ).
Infinitive complement
get: I picked him up, he licked my cheek, purred even louder and wriggled to get down.
Particle object:
hook: Wriggling off this hook could take most of the day.
Browse dictionary entries near wriggle
- ‹ wrick
- ‹ wretchedness
- ‹ wretched
- ‹ wretch
- ‹ wrestling match
- ‹ wrestling
- ‹ wrestler
- ‹ wrestle
- ‹ wrest
- ‹ wrench

