wriggle Hear it!

wriggle Definition

wrig·gle (rigəl)

intransitive verb -·gled, -·gling

  1. to move to and fro with a twisting, writhing motion; twist and turn; squirm
  2. to move along with a wriggling motion
  3. 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

  1. to cause to wriggle
  2. to bring into a specified condition, form, etc. by wriggling

noun

a wriggling movement or action

wriggle Related Forms

wrig·gly adjective -·glier, -·gli·est

wriggle Synonyms

wriggle

v.

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.