squirmingly
1
7.4
- adverb
- /ˈskwɜrmɪŋli/
- He sat squirmingly in his chair during the interview.
Examples
-
She answered the difficult question squirmingly, clearly uncomfortable with the topic.
-
The child looked squirmingly at the doctor, dreading the upcoming injection.
-
He waited squirmingly for his turn to speak, unable to sit still in his chair.
-
The child looked squirmingly at the dentist.
-
The child waited squirmingly in her chair as she anticipated the surprise.
-
He spoke squirmingly during the interview, clearly feeling anxious about his responses.
-
Unsure of the audience's reaction, she stood squirmingly at the podium, her hands fidgeting.
Synonyms
22
3.4
In a way that makes a person feel uncomfortable or awkward
11
4.2
In a worried or uncomfortable way
2
3.9
In a nervous, worried way that shows stress
1
7.8
To make small nervous movements because you feel impatient and uneasy
1
6.9
Shows discomfort or disgust when seeing unpleasant things
1
6.8
With light quick shaking movements like a small bird flapping its wings
1
7.2
In a nervous, easily startled way with sudden jerks
1
8.6
In a trembling voice because of fear or strong feeling
1
7.8
In a nervous way that shows fear or hesitation
1
7.0
In a nervous way with small quick movements
1
9.3
In a way that twists or squirms because of pain
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.