writhe

/raɪð/

/raɪð/

Other forms: writhing; writhed; writhes

To writhe is to squirm and twist. Often you'll see the phrase "to writhe in agony." Writhe when you've just ingested some stomach-wrenching poison, or perhaps in response to red ant stings.

Writhe stems from the Old English, meaning "to twist or bend." It's not a coincidence that a Christmas wreath is greenery twisted and bent into a circle. A person can writhe in embarrassment but it's usually reserved for times when pain or discomfort cause you to twist and bend over and squirm because your body is in such distress.

Definitions of writhe

1. verb

   move in a twisting or contorted motion (especially when struggling)
   “The prisoner writhed in discomfort”

   synonyms: squirm, twist, worm, wrestle, wriggle

   types:

   wrench

   make a sudden twisting motion

   type of:

   move

   move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion