squirming

Squirming refers to a twisting, wriggling or writhing movement of the body or body parts, often characterized by rapid, irregular motions. It can be voluntary or involuntary and is commonly a response to discomfort, heat, itch, pain, fear, anxiety, or excitement. The term is used across human behavior, animal locomotion, and literary descriptions.

In humans, squirming typically involves the torso, hips, or limbs and is seen when someone shifts position, tries to disengage from something, or experiences ticklish sensations. In infancy and early development, squirming contributes to motor exploration. In the animal and larval world, many organisms exhibit squirming as a basic locomotor or escape behavior; wriggling and writhing describe similar, sometimes more continuous or elongated movements.

Mechanistically, squirming arises from alternating muscle contractions, often coordinated by the nervous system. It can be suppressed or reduced by attention, rest, or restraint, and can be accompanied by facial expressions or vocalizations indicating discomfort or distress.

Culturally and literarily, squirming is used metaphorically to convey awkwardness, embarrassment, or revulsion, as in descriptive prose or slang phrases.

See also: wriggle, writhing, contortion, squirm (verb).