Wriggly

Wriggly is an English adjective used to describe motion that is twisting, writhing, or squirming with irregular, sinuous movement. It is commonly applied to small living things such as worms or larvae, but can also describe objects or lines that do not move smoothly.

The form wriggly is derived from the verb wriggle with the adjectival suffix -y. The verb wriggle itself comes from older Germanic roots, and wriggly inherits that sense of recurrent, irregular motion. In contemporary usage, wriggly is familiar in British English and is understood in American English as well, though speakers may also use wiggle-based forms depending on regional preference.

In usage, wriggly often conveys lively, persistent motion and is frequently tied to living creatures. Wiggly is a broader term that can describe anything that wiggles or curves, including non-living things such as lines, shapes, or trajectories. For example, a wriggly worm moves with abrupt, twisting motions, while a wiggly line on a map indicates a route that avoids a straight path.

See also: worm, wriggle, serpentine motion, movement in animals.