squirm

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /skwɝm/ UK /skwɜːm/ See IPA manual

Freq #24872

Meanings

1

verb
To twist your body uncomfortably, especially out of shame or embarrassment.

I told the embarrassing story in detail just to watch him squirm.
2

verb
To twist and move your body in a snakelike way.

The prisoner managed to squirm out of the ropes.
3

noun
A twisting, wriggling movement of the body.

With one quick squirm, the puppy slipped free of her arms.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to twist your body... fidget wriggle writhe

2 verb · to twist and move your body... wriggle writhe twist

3 noun · a twisting, wriggling... wiggle

Word family

Forms squirmedsquirmingsquirms

Derived forms asquirmsquigglesquirmagesquirmersquirminglysquirmishsquirmworthysquirmy

Etymology

First recorded 1690's, originally used of eels; cognate with Scots squimmer (“to wriggle, squirm”). Of uncertain origin. Compare dialectal quirm, whirm (“to disappear quickly, vanish suddenly and mysteriously”), Norwegian kverva (“to turn around, take away, remove, shrink”), from Old Norse hverfa (“to turn, vanish”). Alternatively, perhaps imitative or related to worm (in the sense of writhing movement) or swarm.

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# squirm

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /skwɝm/
**IPA (UK):** /skwɜːm/
**Frequency rank:** 24872

## Meanings
1. To twist your body uncomfortably, especially out of shame or embarrassment.
2. To twist and move your body in a snakelike way.
3. A twisting, wriggling movement of the body.

## Examples
- I told the embarrassing story in detail just to watch him squirm.
- The prisoner managed to squirm out of the ropes.
- With one quick squirm, the puppy slipped free of her arms.

## Derived Forms
- asquirm
- squiggle
- squirmage
- squirmer
- squirmingly
- squirmish
- squirmworthy
- squirmy

## Etymology
First recorded 1690's, originally used of eels; cognate with Scots squimmer (“to wriggle, squirm”). Of uncertain origin. Compare dialectal quirm, whirm (“to disappear quickly, vanish suddenly and mysteriously”), Norwegian kverva (“to turn around, take away, remove, shrink”), from Old Norse hverfa (“to turn, vanish”). Alternatively, perhaps imitative or related to worm (in the sense of writhing movement) or swarm.

## AI Etymology
Squirm first recorded 1690's, originally used of eels; cognate with Scots squimmer (“to wriggle, squirm”). Of uncertain origin. Compare dialectal quirm, whirm (“to disappear quickly, vanish suddenly and mysteriously”), Norwegian kverva (“to turn around, take away, remove, shrink”), from Old Norse hverfa (“to turn, vanish”). Alternatively, perhaps imitative or related to worm (in the sense of writhing movement) or swarm. Current senses include to twist your body uncomfortably, especially out of shame or embarrassment, to twist and move your body in a snakelike way, and a twisting, wriggling movement of the body. The wider family includes derived forms such as asquirm, squiggle, squirmage, squirmer, and squirmingly.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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