wiggle 1 of 2

verb

ˈwi-gəl How to pronounce wiggle (audio)
Definition of wigglenext
as in to fidget
to make jerky or restless movements the baby wiggled in her sleep

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wiggle

2 of 2

noun

as in shake

Related Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wiggle
Verb
Like fainting, craving pickles, or struggling to wiggle into skinny jeans, vomiting, in the cultural imagination, is a stand-in for imminent motherhood, as legible as any pregnancy test. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026 Punk eventually tried to go for the GTS, but Rhodes wiggled out and caught Punk in a headlock. — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Noun
The property is located right next to a playground and creek to get the wiggles out, and the infinity pool is a favorite. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026 The bolt that holds the rack to the trailer hitch receiver gets nice and tight, eliminating the wiggle and clang-and-bang that an old hand-me-down rack tends to have. — Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for wiggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wiggle
  1. fidget
  2. shake
  3. twitch
  4. jiggle
  5. squirm
  6. flick
  7. toss
  8. jerk
Verb
  • Following this concern, 55% of parents said their top concern was their child’s ability to complete multistep tasks such as homework while 45% of parents cited fidgeting.
    — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The current boom is driven by Gen Z’s openness about mental health, social-commerce virality on TikTok and Etsy, and a broader nervous-system regulation movement that treats fidgeting as a legitimate coping tool rather than a bad habit.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of fidget
Noun
  • Yoo being lactose intolerant made the dairy-free protein shake application a personal goal.
    — Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Brown Roof Because brown roofs, especially wood shake or architectural shingles, bring a warm, earthy base to a home’s exterior, Soto suggests reaching for tans, warm beiges, or a terracotta tone if the house can handle a bolder statement.
    — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of shake
Verb
  • The 5-11, 210-pounder is a sudden cutter who runs with power and twitch, attacking space like a great punt returner.
    — Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The muscles in Lola Petticrew’s face twitch ever so slightly, indicating Catherine’s excitement that the police are now in possession of this picture.
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of twitch
Noun
  • Before putting the jiggle in green Jell-O, Ariana Richards was already shaking things up as a child actress.
    — Huntley Woods, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026
  • Japanese-style cheesecakes, sometimes called soufflé cheesecakes, have risen in popularity in recent years thanks, in part, to social media, where their jiggle and airy texture have helped turn the pie into a viral treat.
    — Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 26 May 2026
Definition of jiggle
Verb
  • Where Raphael’s infant Christ is plump, acquiescent, docile, Cassatt’s children squirm, resist, and ignore authority.
    — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Its defenders will have to do better than making Infantino squirm.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of squirm
Noun
  • Screwball comedies, dark horror flicks and so much more await in this weekend’s edition of your friendly neighborhood streaming guide.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Network partner Turner Classic Movies is a big part of that, and the first of the month is always a great day to see which legendary flicks are newly available.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of flick
Verb
  • To add to the playfulness, beach balls were also tossed about during up-tempo songs.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Roast for 20 minutes, then toss the vegetables and carefully flip the chicken.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of toss
Noun
  • The latter accidentally does happen, which leads to power struggles between the bigoted jerk and our trio of heroines.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Duffy, for his part, came across as a real jerk at times, but surprisingly charming at others, with a half-nerd, half-jock mien—sweepy hair, big glasses, a megawatt smile—that put me in mind of a Wisconsin Sam Seaborn.
    — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of jerk

Phrases Containing wiggle

Browse Nearby Words

wigging (out)
wiggle
wiggled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wiggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wiggle. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All