[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/wriggle/)

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# wriggle

verb (wriggle, wriggles, wriggled, wriggling); noun (a wriggle, wriggles)

«wriggle» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To wriggle means to twist and turn your body quickly from side to side: "the worm wriggled in my hand". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wriggle/#m1)
2. To wriggle into or out of something means to get into or out of it by twisting: "he wriggled into his wetsuit". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wriggle/#m2)
3. To wriggle out of something means to avoid doing it by being clever or making excuses. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wriggle/#m3)
4. (noun) A wriggle is a twisting movement. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wriggle/#m4)

### In the lessons

In science, worms, snakes, tadpoles and fish wriggle to move. In stories, children wriggle on carpets or in their seats when bored, and a sly character wriggles out of trouble. Phrases: wriggle out of, wriggle free, wriggle about, wriggle room.

### Examples

- The worm wriggled across the path. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wriggle/#x1)
- Stop wriggling and sit still! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wriggle/#x2)
- The puppy wriggled out of my arms. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wriggle/#x3)
- She wriggled into her tight jeans. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wriggle/#x4)
- He tried to wriggle out of doing the dishes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wriggle/#x5)
- The tadpoles wriggled in the pond. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wriggle/#x6)
- The rope was loose, so the prisoner wriggled free. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wriggle/#x7)

### Note

Past: wriggled. The w is silent: "RIG-ul". Wiggle (move side to side, often playfully) is very close in meaning; squirm is a wriggle from discomfort or shame.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «wriggle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wriggle/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«wriggle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/wriggle.html) on Mova free.