squirming
present participle ofsquirm
squirm
verb[I]
uk/skwɜːm/us/skwɝːm/tomovefromsidetosidein anawkwardway, sometimes because ofnervousness,embarrassment, orpain:
Nobodyspokefor at least fiveminutesand Rachel squirmed in herchairwithembarrassment.
Thefishsquirmed on thegroundfor a fewmomentsand thenlaystill.
Synonyms
twist
wriggle
writhe
tofeelnervousorembarrassedabout something:
Sal wouldoccasionallysquirmathisparents'behaviour.
- Shebegantofidgetand squirm,unabletofindacomfortableposition.
- Ifyourchildsquirms andfusseswhen youstartunfoldingthestroller,lethimwalk.
- At first, she squirmed at thethoughtoftouchingthescalyanimal.
- Someindustrywatcherssquirm about thetrendbecause ofitselitistimplications.
Making short, sudden movements
- aquiver
- convulse
- convulsion
- convulsive
- cringe
- flick
- jerkiness
- jerky
- jig
- jiggle
- jiggly
- pull away
- quiver
- shrink
- shudder
- squirm
- tremulous
- whip
- worry atsomething
- wriggle
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Ashamed and embarrassed
Anxious and worried
Examplesofsquirming
squirming
In English, many past and present participles of verbs can be used as adjectives. Some of these examples may show the adjective use.
Activity items assessed general activity level (waving arms, moving around the crib,squirming).
From theCambridge English Corpus
He finished the rest of the song on his back, writhing,squirmingand shouting out the lyrics.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Coded: 1, out of seat, body constantly in motion; 2, much movement; 3, somesquirming; 4, sits quietly.
From theCambridge English Corpus
All these behaviors can be plausibly seen as part of an overall behavioral pattern of writhing orsquirming.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Now they are sitting theresquirmingand ashamed of themselves because it is being pointed out to them.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Even large secondary schools aresquirmingunder the pressure caused by the increase in training weeks introduced by circulars 9/92 and 14/93.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Those worms aresquirmingout around the edges and will continue to squirm until someone, somewhere down the line, has the courage to tell the truth about what happened.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
This young and healthy satyress is striding upright, carrying asquirmingcherub in each arm.
From
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.The nakji pieces are usually stillsquirmingon the plate.
FromThis example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.If necessary,squirmingtrout can be held on their backs.
FromThis example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.The food she cooks tends to look rather odd and off-putting (usually withsquirmingoctopus tentacles), but it still tastes good.
FromThis example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.A live octopus is usually sliced up and it is eaten while stillsquirming.
FromThis example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.Nod lands a fish-like star that ends upsquirmingin his pants.
FromThis example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.It's a down-and-dirty little actioneer that leaves yousquirming, breathless in your seat.
FromThis example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.These signals vary widely from one infant to another, and include a certain facial expression, a particular cry,squirming, a sudden unexplained fussiness, as well as others.
FromThis example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
- sickbed
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- share manipulation
- share-manipulation
- share offer
- share-offer
- share offering
- share-offering
- share of investment
- share of mind
- share-of-mind
- share of output
- share of output
- share of revenue
- share of revenue
- share of tax
- share of tax
- share of voice
- share-of-voice
- share option
- share-option
- share-out
- share-out
- shareowner