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Glite Dictionary
writhed

writhed

7.6
Twisted in a way that shows pain or struggle
  • adjective
  • /raɪðd/
translation icon : retorcido
  • The snake writhed on the ground, struggling to escape its captor.

Examples

  • The fish began to writhe in the net as it gasped for air.

  • He lay on the floor, writhed in pain after twisting his ankle.

  • Now we lie in our writhing lonesomeness.

Synonyms

contorted
vswrithed
2 6.4

Twisted out of its normal shape, often because of pain or effort

focuses on twisting as pain or struggle rather than movement
writhen
vswrithed
  • Archaic
9.9

Twisted into a shape that looks like someone in pain

is the same meaning but is an older or alternate written form
writhing
vswrithed
6.0

Moving by twisting and turning like a snake

describes the twisted state or form rather than ongoing movement

Antonyms

relaxed
241 1.0

Calm and not worried

How Contorted

writhed
7.6
contorted
2 6.4
bent
21 1.0

Surface Forms

writhed positive

Morphology

writhed = writhe (transparent) = writhe + ed

Regular past-participle/adjectival formation from the verb 'writhe'; the adjectival meaning 'twisted/contorted' is directly derived from the verb.

Etymology

The word writhed comes from the old English verb writhe, which meant 'to twist' and is related to wreath, a ring of twisted flowers. So, writhed describes someone or something that is twisted or turned, often because of pain or struggle.