squiggly

[ skwig-lee ]

adjective

1. forming or containing short, often irregular curves or twists, as in writing or drawing:

   The bedsheets feature bright, happy colors, with fun polka-dot, squiggly, and swirly prints.

   If your screen shows no squiggly lines under the words, from the automatic spelling and grammar check, you’ve written a good letter.

Word History and Origins

Origin of squiggly¹

First recorded in 1890–95; squigg(le) ( def ) + -ly ( def )

Example Sentences

Of course we learn to extract meaning from squiggles on a page, or you wouldn’t be reading this.

From Nautilus

And here is where things get squiggly: “The DPH did a bad job on the vetting process,” said Martinez.

From The Daily Beast

Over dessert, we look through the Post-Its full of squiggly pictures.

From The Daily Beast

The network's squiggly on-screen emotometer beats Joe the Plumber as the most memorable part of last night's debate.

From The Daily Beast

I could have hugged it to my breast and cried upon the squiggly little curls that never lie flat.

From Project Gutenberg

A frail man, with a bald head and a squiggly moustache, stood up behind his desk.

From Project Gutenberg

With regard to the living-rooms, it is essential that they should not be square but squiggly.

From Project Gutenberg

In each square was a bit of squiggly writing, in blackish paint, and a small wooden peg jutting out from the wall.

From Project Gutenberg

A huge dial beside the plate had a pointer and scores of notches, each labeled with a couple of squiggly characters.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• coiled
• curly
• curved
• sinuous