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View synonyms for

wriggle

[rig-uhl]

verb (used without object)

wriggled, wriggling 
  1. to twist to and fro; writhe; squirm.

  2. to move along by twisting and turning the body, as a worm or snake.

  3. to make one's way by shifts or expedients (often followed byout ).

    to wriggle out of a difficulty.



verb (used with object)

wriggled, wriggling 
  1. to cause to wriggle.

    to wriggle one's hips.

  2. to bring, get, make, etc., by wriggling.

    to wriggle one's way through a narrow opening.

noun

  1. act of wriggling; a wriggling movement.

wriggle

/ ˈɪɡə /

verb

  1. to make or cause to make twisting movements

  2. (intr) to progress by twisting and turning

  3. (intr; foll by into or out of) to manoeuvre oneself by clever or devious means

    wriggle out of an embarrassing situation

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a wriggling movement or action

  2. a sinuous marking or course

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • wrigglingly adverb
  • outwriggle verb (used with object)
  • unwriggled adjective
  • ˈɰ noun
  • ˈɰ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of wriggle1

1485–95; < Middle Low German wriggelen (cognate with Dutch wriggelen ), frequentative of *wriggen to twist, turn, akin to Old English ɰī to twist; wry
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Word History and Origins

Origin of wriggle1

C15: from Middle Low German; compare Dutch wriggelen
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Having burned both their remaining reviews - a potential caught behind off Stubbs' glove and a flimsy lbw appeal against Bedingham - Cummins left himself no wriggle room in the event of some late drama.

From

They milled in the room to music between sessions with partners, shaking off awkwardness by wriggling their arms, swinging their hips, jumping or full-on dancing.

From

It's a sufficiently vague term that allows them some wriggle room.

From

He added that it "doesn't touch the sides in enacting fundamental reform - especially if water companies can still workaround bonuses and wriggle off the hook".

From

Hours were marked by peals of screams following every uncovered worm wriggling in the corn silks, and each of us proudly showing off our inky fingertips from pressing out purple hull peas from their pods.

From

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