squirmingly
- adverb
- /ˈskwɜrmɪŋli/
- He sat squirmingly in his chair during the interview.
Examples
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She answered the difficult question squirmingly, clearly uncomfortable with the topic.
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The child looked squirmingly at the doctor, dreading the upcoming injection.
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He waited squirmingly for his turn to speak, unable to sit still in his chair.
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The child looked squirmingly at the dentist.
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The child waited squirmingly in her chair as she anticipated the surprise.
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He spoke squirmingly during the interview, clearly feeling anxious about his responses.
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Unsure of the audience's reaction, she stood squirmingly at the podium, her hands fidgeting.
Synonyms
In a way that makes a person feel uncomfortable or awkward
In a worried or uncomfortable way
In a nervous, worried way that shows stress
In a way that twists or squirms because of pain
To make small nervous movements because you feel impatient and uneasy
In a nervous way with small quick movements
In a nervous, easily startled way with sudden jerks
In a trembling voice because of fear or strong feeling
Shows discomfort or disgust when seeing unpleasant things
In a nervous way that shows fear or hesitation
With light quick shaking movements like a small bird flapping its wings
Antonyms
How Restless
Surface Forms
Morphology
squirmingly = squirming (transparent) = squirm + ing + ly
Adding the productive adverbial suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'squirming' yields an adverb in a regular, clearly derivational way.
Etymology
The word squirmingly comes from the verb squirm, a word that feels like a worm twisting to get free and gives a clear picture of awkward, restless movement. With -ing and -ly it means 'in a way that shows discomfort or nervousness', so someone who shifts or wriggles is waiting or speaking squirmingly.