wriggle

[ rig-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, wrig·gled, wrig·gling.

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 by out ):

   to wriggle out of a difficulty.

verb (used with object)

, wrig·gled, wrig·gling.

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

/ ˈrɪɡəl /

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

noun

1. a wriggling movement or action
2. a sinuous marking or course

Derived Forms

• ˈwriggler, noun
• ˈwriggly, adjective

Other Words From

• wriggling·ly adverb
• outwriggle verb (used with object) outwriggled outwriggling
• un·wriggled adjective

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 wrīgian to twist; wry

Word History and Origins

Origin of wriggle¹

C15: from Middle Low German; compare Dutch wriggelen

Example Sentences

England have not left themselves any wriggle room though.

From BBC

“And now you want to wriggle out of it and inconvenience all these people. It just gets you off the hook with your problem killing fish.”

From BBC

A snapshot of wriggling toad tadpoles has earned Shane Gross the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

From BBC

But after a few tries, the net came up filled with small wriggling salmon.

From Los Angeles Times

It is another excruciating interview, with an embarrassed Prince Andrew needing money and a tough, exploitative Epstein, played by John Hopkins, making him wriggle on his financial hook.

From BBC

Related Words

• crawl
• sneak
• squirm
• zigzag