squirm
Writhe with discomfort
Squirm is to twist and wriggle the body, especially from discomfort or restlessness: The child squirmed in her seat.
The word extends to psychological discomfort—feeling uneasy or embarrassed: He squirmed when asked about his past.
The question made everyone squirm.
Twisting, snakelike movement
- writheTwist body in pain
- twistRotating motion or surprise
- wiggleMove with small twists
- contortTwist unnaturally
thrash · flail · squiggle · undulate · coil · convulse · spasm · jerk
Troubled, not calm
- cringeShrink from discomfort
- winceReflexive recoil from distress
- flinchInvoluntary retreat from threat
- grimaceTwisted expression of displeasure
shudder · squeamish · queasy · uncomfortable · distaste · repulsion · recoil · shrink
Involuntary muscular jerk
- jitterSmall, rapid variation
- fiddleAdjust restlessly; folk violin
- shuffleRandomize by mixing
- twiddleTurn idly, absently
fuss · fumble · restless · antsy · fidgety · restive · twitchy · agitated
Facial reddening from emotion
- stammerSpeak with involuntary repetitions
- flusteredNervously upset and confused
- self-consciousUncomfortably aware of oneself
- awkwardLacking grace or ease
cringe · mortified · red-faced · sheepish · abashed · chagrined · humiliated · tongue-tied
Unable to act independently
- powerlessLacking strength or authority
- corneredUnable to flee
- pinnedFixed firmly, immobilized
- restrainedHeld under control
captive · struggling · desperate · panicked · frantic · confined · constrained · immobilized
Avoid by quick movement
- sidestepEvade by moving aside
- evadeEscape by cunning
- avoidStay away from
- wriggle outEscape by twisting
deflect · equivocate · hedge · waffle · stall · prevaricate · slip away · weasel
wriggle
Twisting, snakelike movement
contort · thrash · flail · squiggle · undulate · coil · convulse · spasm · jerk · shudder
uneasy
Troubled, not calm
- cringeShrink from discomfort
- winceReflexive recoil from distress
- flinchInvoluntary retreat from threat
grimace · shudder · squeamish · queasy · uncomfortable · distaste · repulsion · recoil · shrink · blanch
twitch
Involuntary muscular jerk
twiddle · fuss · fumble · restless · antsy · fidgety · restive · twitchy · agitated · impatient
blush
Facial reddening from emotion
- stammerSpeak with involuntary repetitions
- flusteredNervously upset and confused
- self-consciousUncomfortably aware of oneself
awkward · cringe · mortified · red-faced · sheepish · abashed · chagrined · humiliated · tongue-tied · disconcerted
helpless
Unable to act independently
restrained · captive · struggling · desperate · panicked · frantic · confined · constrained · immobilized · wriggling
dodge
Avoid by quick movement
wriggle out · deflect · equivocate · hedge · waffle · stall · prevaricate · slip away · weasel · duck
- disgustdisgust, disgusting, disgusted, revulsion, repulsion
- body movementsflexion, bend, twist, standing, extension
- crawling motionsarmy crawl, belly crawl, bear crawl, crab walk, slither
- twisting motionstwist, twirl, coil, spiral, wind
- cringecringe, cringeworthy, cringy, secondhand embarrassment, facepalm
- aversionaversion, disgust, hatred, repulsion, loathing