writhing

/ˈraɪðɪŋ/

Other forms: writhingly

Writhing is a snake- or worm-like movement — a rolling and twisting motion, like your writhing brother who can't stand to have his feet tickled.

When you picture a wreath, you probably think of a festive decoration hanging on someone's front door. So it might surprise you that this word shares its origin with writhing, a word that often describes a reaction to pain or extreme discomfort. The wreathes of today are rings — originally, a wreath was a bandage that wrapped around and around. Writhing is also a rolling, or circular motion.

Definitions of writhing

1. adjective

   moving in a twisting or snake-like or wormlike fashion
   synonyms: wiggly, wriggling, wriggly

   moving

   in motion