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Glite Dictionary
writhing

writhing

6.0
Moving by twisting and turning like a snake
  • adjective
  • /ˈraɪðɪŋ/
translation icon : retorciéndose
  • The snake was writhing through the tall grass, searching for its next meal.

But along the path, right off the walkway, on the lawn, writhing in fetal position, was a somewhat older man, obviously in bad shape, in pain.

Examples

  • I mean, if I examine my life totally, I'd be writhing on the floor in agony.

  • I got to stay home today because she is writhing in pain.

  • Someone carried her off and Noah's writhing on the ground, holding his back.

  • OK, If I get shocked and start writhing on the ground, please turn off the cameras and revive me.

  • I mean, if I examine my life totally, I'd be writhing on the floor in agony.

  • It's about roadkill and what's going on and how the, you know, the maggots are, you know, writhing around in it.

  • Over the next few hours, her writhing sets the trap off repeatedly, each time bringing her deeper into the plant to be digested alive bit by bit.

  • And you'll quickly realize as you're writhing around on the ground and rolling around, and then you roll up to your hands and your knees, whoa, this feeling is shifting.

  • A massive writhing shadow, a shambling, rotting corpse, and worst of all, a monstrous beast with deadly bite.

  • I've never even scraped my shin without immediately pulling it up to my chest and writhing in pain or so how much time do you get to recover?

Synonyms

to twist
vswrithing
231 1.7

To turn something so it becomes a curved or spiral shape

is about contorted, sinuous motion rather than simple turning
to snake
vswrithing
48 4.3

To move in a long, curving line

is more contorted and irregular rather than flowing curves
to writhe
vswrithing
24 7.5

Move the body in a twisting, uncomfortable way because of pain or embarrassment

is twisting or contorting without stressing pain or discomfort
to contort
vswrithing
17 7.5

To twist a body or object into a strange shape

is a twisting motion emphasizing movement rather than fixed deformation
to coil
vswrithing
7 3.8

To wind something into loops or move in a spiral

is more irregular contortion and not just neat spirals
to worm
vswrithing
3 4.6

To move by twisting and wriggling to get through a small space

is more sinuous and contorted than slow simple movement
to thrash about
vswrithing
1 6.1

Move the body violently when in pain or fear

is twisting or sinuous but less focused on violent uncontrolled action
wriggling
vswrithing
3.4

Moving with small twisting and squirming movements like a worm

is larger and more contorted rather than small continuous squirming
slithering
vswrithing
4.3

Moving smoothly and quietly like a snake

is more contorted and less smooth or quiet in motion
coiling
vswrithing
4.4

Has a spiral shape like a snake or rope

is twisting with irregular bends rather than regular spirals
to circumvolute
vswrithing
  • Specialized
9.9

To wind or twist inward in a spiral like a snail's shell

is contorted and sinuous rather than neat inward spirals
to wreathe
vswrithing
7.5

To move in slow twisting ways like smoke or vines

is more sharply contorted and intense rather than gentle sinuous motion

Antonyms

still
∞ 1.0

Not moving or making a sound

calm
735 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

How Contorted

writhing
6.0
to thrash
24 5.8
to flail
38 5.8
to twist
231 1.7
to squirm
68 3.9

Surface Forms

writhing positive

Morphology

writhing = writhe (transparent) = writhe + ing

The adjective is the present-participle form of 'writhe' and directly describes the action of twisting.

Etymology

Writhing comes from an old English verb writhan meaning 'to twist', and it is the same root as the verb writhe. So something writhing is twisting and turning in a tight, snake-like way.