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View synonyms for

writhe

[rahyth]

verb (used without object)

writhed, writhing 
  1. to twist the body about or squirm, as in pain, violent effort, uncontrolled passion, etc.

    Synonyms: , , ,
  2. to shrink mentally, as in acute discomfort.



verb (used with object)

writhed, writhing 
  1. to twist or bend out of shape or position; distort; contort.

  2. to twist (oneself, the body, etc.) about, as in pain.

noun

  1. a writhing movement; a twisting of the body, as in pain.

writhe

/ ɪð /

verb

  1. to twist or squirm in or as if in pain

  2. (intr) to move with such motions

  3. (intr) to suffer acutely from embarrassment, revulsion, etc

“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. the act or an instance of writhing

“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

  • writher noun
  • ˈɰٳ noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of writhe1

First recorded before 900; Middle English writhen (verb), Old English ɰīٳ󲹲 “to twist, wind”; cognate with Old Norse īٳ “to knit, twist”; akin to wreath, wry
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Word History and Origins

Origin of writhe1

Old English ɰīٳ󲹲; related to Old High German ī岹, Old Norse īٳ. See wrath , wreath , wrist , wroth
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

When she refuses, Spears grabs the trimmer and clicks it on: “The extensions are hacked into lifeless scraps … the stray hairs curl on the floor like writhing snakes.”

From

“Perfect Celebrity” and “Disease” had her writhing in a shallow grave surrounded by the undead.

From

His moans and groans grow louder, as he writhes on the gurney.

From

The anchors made the appropriate comments of shock and grief while I writhed in my seat wondering where all the various fire lines actually were at that moment.

From

Depp whimpers and writhes with aplomb, but her enthusiastically physical performance never reaches her eyes — unless they’re rolling back in her head.

From

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