squirm

verb

ˈskwərm How to pronounce squirm (audio)
squirmed; squirming; squirms
Synonyms of squirm

intransitive verb

: to twist about like a worm : fidget
squirm noun
squirmy
ˈskwər-mē How to pronounce squirm (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of squirm

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Examples of squirm in a Sentence

The baby squirmed a lot when I tried to hold him. She squirmed under her father's angry stare. The children squirmed with delight. He tried to hold onto her but she squirmed free. The frog squirmed out of his hands. The gory details of the story had me squirming in my seat.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Erling Haaland headed City level in the second half, but Jackson got his second and the winner with a first-time finish that squirmed under goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 In the back, tanks bubbled with live lobsters while crawfish squirmed in boxes nearby. — Sara Rosenthal, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026 Laura squirmed under her mother’s gaze, willed the light to turn green. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026 American Horror Story loves nothing more than making viewers squirm. — Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for squirm

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

circa 1691, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of squirm was circa 1691

Rhymes for squirm

See All Rhymes for squirm

Browse Nearby Words

squirl
squirm
squirmy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Squirm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squirm. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

squirm

verb
ˈskwərm How to pronounce squirm (audio)
1
: to twist about like an eel or a worm
squirmed in their seats
2
: to feel very embarrassed
undeserved praise made us squirm
squirmy
ˈskwər-mē How to pronounce squirm (audio)
adjective
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