squirm — English Dictionary

Verb

1. To twist one's body with snakelike motions.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Synonyms

   writhewriggle

   Examples

   The prisoner managed to squirm out of the straitjacket.

   More examples (1)

   […] around us there had sprung up a perfect bedlam of screams and hisses and a seething caldron of hideous reptiles, devoid of fear and filled only with hunger and with rage. They clambered, squirmed and wriggled to the deck, forcing us steadily backward, though we emptied our pistols into them.

   "Throw it away, dear, do," she said, as they got into the road; but Jacob squirmed away from her […]

   More examples (1)

   The Dutchman then missed a retaken second spot-kick, before the Trotters hit back when Daniel Sturridge's shot squirmed under Heurelho Gomes.

2. To twist in discomfort, especially from shame or embarrassment.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Synonyms

   fidget

   Examples

   I recounted the embarrassing story in detail just to watch him squirm.

   A tough question that made the press office squirm.

   More examples (1)

   MARIGOLD: Should I tell them I know? DORA: Nah, let ’em squirm. Let’s go get some pie.

3. To evade a question, an interviewer etc.

Noun

1. A twisting, snakelike movement of the body.

Noun

1. the act of wiggling

   Synonyms

   wigglewriggle

   Broader terms

   motionmovementmovemotility

Verb

1. to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)

   Synonyms

   writhewrestlewrigglewormtwist

   Broader terms

   move

   Examples

   The prisoner writhed in discomfort

   The child tried to wriggle free from his aunt's embrace