wiggle

Small side-to-side motion

Wiggle is a small, quick side-to-side movement.

Worms wiggle, loose teeth wiggle, children wiggle in their seats when restless.

To wiggle out of something is to escape through evasive maneuvering: He wiggled out of his responsibilities.

There's wiggle room when flexibility exists for negotiation or adjustment.

movement

squirm

Twist from discomfort

jiggleShake with small movements
shimmyRapid side-to-side shaking
writheTwist body in pain

twist · shake · undulate · sway · slither · oscillate · wobble · quiver · gyrate · swivel

discomfort

squirm

Twist from discomfort

fidgetRestless small movements
restlessnessState of unease
antsyRestlessly eager or nervous

unease · twitch · nervousness · agitation · jittery · edginess · itchiness · awkwardness · impatience · fretfulness

playfulness

giggle

Soft, silly vocalization

tickleTouch provoking involuntary laughter
sillyFrivolous or absurd
funAmusement or pleasure

frolic · romp · antics · mischief · whimsy · frisky · lively · caper · gambol · rollick

flexibility

bendable

Able to curve

pliableCapable of bending easily
suppleFlexing without damage
squishySoft and easily compressed

jiggly · wobbly · springy · elastic · malleable · yielding · loose · limber · rubbery · slinky

evasion

loophole

Exploitable gap in rules

dodgeAvoid by quick movement
escapeFlight from captivity
sidestepEvade by moving aside

maneuver · slip away · workaround · evade · circumvent · finagle · weasel · skirt · hedge

Categories

body movementsflexion, bend, twist, standing, extension
dance movespirouette, shimmy, waltz, tango, cha-cha
-le/-er verbsbabble, bubble, bumble, burble, crackle
wavy patternswavy line, sine wave, undulation, ripple, ripples
actionsrun, walk, jump, move, push
fidgetingfidgeting, fidget, tapping, fiddle, finger tapping

Opposites

motion vs. stillness

wigglefreeze

Become solid from cold

be still · still · rest · hold still · stay put

manner of movement

Become less pliable

stand firm · brace · straighten · glide

movement quality

wigglerigid

Unable to bend

stiffen · lock · brace · stabilize · steady

Phrases

wiggle roomFlexibility to adjust
wiggle wormWriggly soil dweller
wiggly wormTwisting garden invertebrate
wiggle dressesNarrow, body-hugging garments
The WigglesAustralian children's group
wiggle dressForm-fitted garment limiting movement

Family

wiggly, wiggled, wiggles, wiggling, wiggler, wiggle room

Familiarity: Top 10,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G