squirming

Wriggling with discomfort

Squirming is twisting and wriggling the body, typically from discomfort, restlessness, or an attempt to escape restraint.

A child squirms in a dentist's chair; a fish squirms on a hook.

Figuratively, squirming describes acute embarrassment or unease: I was squirming through his entire speech.

The image is of someone who can't sit still under pressure.

physical

wriggling

Twisting with short movements

writhingTwisting the body convulsively
twistingRotating with distortion
wigglingMoving with small twists

thrashing · flailing · contorting · twitching · restless · gyrating · shifting · turning · rolling · kicking

discomfort

fidgeting

Restless minor movements

uneaseMild persistent worry
awkwardnessLack of grace or ease
embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease

self-consciousness · nervousness · anxiety · agitation · restlessness · tension · distress · edginess · jitters · apprehension

evasion

dodging

Avoiding by moving aside

slipperyLacking friction, hard-to-grasp
elusiveHard to find
evasiveAvoiding direct response

avoidance · deflection · sidestepping · escape · excuse-making · backpedaling · hedging · noncommittal · squirrelly · weaseling

Categories

body languagegestures, facial expressions, hand gestures, posture, nodding
disgustdisgust, disgusting, disgusted, revulsion, repulsion
exertioneffort, straining, strain, heaving, labor
fidgetingfidgeting, fidget, tapping, fiddle, finger tapping
locomotionwalking, running, crawling, swimming, flying
restlessnessrestlessness, fidgeting, fidgets, agitation, nervousness

Opposites

physical movement/motion

squirmingstill

Unmoving, or continuing

motionless · stationary · immobile · frozen · unmoving

emotional composure/comfort

squirmingcomposed

Calm and self-possessed

comfortable · at ease · relaxed · calm · poised

Family

squirm, squirms, squirmed

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G