wriggly

adjective

Definition of wrigglynext
as in wiggly
making jerky or restless movements after a while, the little girl got wriggly and had to be taken outside to the church vestibule

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 wriggly Both players are wriggly, elusive dribblers. — Luke Bosher, New York Times, 25 June 2026 Medieval Christians looked at the very same phenomenon and imagined it as a reflection of divine will, the transformation of a wriggly worm into a flying jewel an earthly reminder of the transfiguration of Jesus to Christ. — Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wriggly
  1. wiggly
  2. squirmy
  3. fidgety
  4. twitchy
  5. upset
  6. worried
Adjective
  • Black Hills South Dakota Most Midwesterners have to commit at least a week of vacation time to reaching and exploring western South Dakota’s squiggly, wiggly, scenic-drive paradise.
    — Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 12 Sep. 2026
  • Other vipers are known to flick their tails, especially baby vipers with bright green or neon yellow tail tips that might appear like a wiggly worm to unsuspecting frogs.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of wiggly
Adjective
  • Another personal fear Chase infused into the script was his dislike of dentists, which leads to several squirmy big-screen moments.
    — William Earl, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The screwworm is actually a parasitic fly named for its larvae, which look like squirmy worms.
    — Alice Park, Time, 2 July 2026
Definition of squirmy
Adjective
  • While providing strong mid-range performance, its ride can be fidgety, and acceleration doesn't always meet expectations.
    — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Even Jason notices the guests are fidgety.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2026
Definition of fidgety
Adjective
  • Ludwig is the twitchy, neurotic, charming character that Mitchell was born to play.
    — Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
  • There’s also a twitchy paranoia at play, since Ethan and Ivy, as outsiders, inevitably spark a turf war as various warring factions try to figure out who is killing their men.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of twitchy
Adjective
  • The guests seemed less upset by the death than by the news that their infusions would be halted.
    — D. T. Max, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Instead, Brazil’s veteran leftist leader pulled off a stunning upset.
    — Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of upset
Adjective
  • Observers say the Student List party's policies remain vague, which has some worried about Serbia's future.
    — Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Gas prices were safely below $3 a gallon, and, if anything, the energy market was worried about a supply glut that could keep fuel prices low.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of worried

Browse Nearby Words

wriggling
wriggly
wright
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wriggly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wriggly. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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