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squirmy

squirmy

1 3.5
Moving in a restless, wiggly way
  • adjective
  • /ˈskwɜrmi/
translation icon : revoltoso
  • It's challenging to keep a squirmy toddler still during story time.

There was more to genetics than little squirmy spirals.

Examples

  • The infant is red and squirmy, and you hope no one who visits says she looks just like you.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The nurses said my normally active, awake, and squirmy boy hadn't opened his eyes all day.

    Blog text (8)
  • What do you do with those quiet, dark moments, just you and the squirmy baby and the swoosh-swoosh of your hands or the creak-creak of the rocker?

    Blog text (8)
  • I can totally relate to your story; I have had my last child, and he is 3 months old. He's a little squirmy guy and often tugs and pulls and would be happy nursing 18 hours a day if I let him.

    Blog text (2)
  • The puppy was squirmy and playful, wiggling in my arms.

  • During the meeting, I noticed my colleague became squirmy when asked about the missing report.

Synonyms

squirrelly
vssquirmy
  • Informal
10 9.1

Feeling nervous and acting in strange, unpredictable ways

means restless twisting motion rather than odd or unpredictable behaviour
twitchy
vssquirmy
  • Informal
9 4.6

Feeling nervous and unable to stay still

describes restlessness as continuous twisting rather than sudden startles
wiggly
vssquirmy
8 3.5

A shape or movement with many small bends like a worm

highlights restless twisting motion rather than only a shape
fidgety
vssquirmy
8 4.8

Unable to stay still because you feel nervous

is about restless twisting or bending motion rather than small movements
wriggly
vssquirmy
1 4.3

Moving with small twisting movements like a worm

adds restless behaviour and not only a shape description

Antonyms

1.0

Not moving or making a sound

How Squirmy

wriggly
1 4.3
squirmy
1 3.5
restless
110 3.0
fidgety
8 4.8

Surface Forms

squirmy positive
squirmier comparative
squirmiest superlative

Morphology

squirmy = squirm (transparent) = squirm + y

Clearly formed from 'squirm' + '-y' to mean 'characterized by squirming or wriggling'.

Etymology

Squirmy The word squirmy comes from the verb squirm, which brings to mind a small creature twisting and wriggling like a 'worm'. That's why squirmy describes someone or something that moves in a restless, wiggly way.