squirmed
Writhed with discomfort
Squirmed is the past tense of squirm, which means to twist and wriggle the body, typically from discomfort, embarrassment, or an attempt to escape restraint.
A child squirms in a chair during a long lecture; someone squirms under pointed questioning.
The word captures both physical movement and psychological unease—you can squirm without actually moving if you feel acutely uncomfortable.
He squirmed when his mother brought out the baby photos.
Twisted with short movements
- writhedTwisted in pain
- fidgetedMoved restlessly from unease
- twistedWound around itself
- shiftedChanged place or position
uncomfortable · uneasy · awkward · embarrassed · self-conscious · antsy · restless · agitated
wriggled
Twisted with short movements
shifted · uncomfortable · uneasy · awkward · embarrassed · self-conscious · antsy · restless · agitated · nervous
wriggled
Twisted with short movements
writhed · flailed · struggled · wrestled · jerked · convulsed · twitched · spasmed · coiled · recoiled
dodged
Avoided by quick movement
- evadedSuccessfully avoided capture
- sidesteppedAvoided by moving aside
- deflectedCaused to veer off
slippery · elusive · evasive · hedged · avoided · escaped · slipped away · weaseled · ducked · skirted
squirmedfroze
Became solid or still
straightened · stayed put · stiffened · sat still · relaxed