'Writhe' definitions:

Definition of 'writhe'

From: WordNet
verb
To move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling); "The prisoner writhed in discomfort"; "The child tried to wriggle free from his aunt's embrace" [syn: writhe, wrestle, wriggle, worm, squirm, twist]

Definition of 'Writhe'

From: GCIDE
  • Writhe \Writhe\, v. i. To twist or contort the body; to be distorted; as, to writhe with agony. Also used figuratively. [1913 Webster]
  • After every attempt, he felt that he had failed, and writhed with shame and vexation. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Writhe'

From: GCIDE
  • Writhe \Writhe\, v. t. [imp. Writhed; p. p. Writhed, Obs. or Poetic Writhen; p. pr. & vb. n. Writhing.] [OE. writhen, AS. wr[imac]?an to twist; akin to OHG. r[imac]dan, Icel. r[imac]?a, Sw. vrida, Dan. vride. Cf. Wreathe, Wrest, Wroth.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. To twist; to turn; now, usually, to twist or turn so as to distort; to wring. "With writhing [turning] of a pin." --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • Then Satan first knew pain, And writhed him to and fro. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • Her mouth she writhed, her forehead taught to frown. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • His battle-writhen arms, and mighty hands. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To wrest; to distort; to pervert. [1913 Webster]
  • The reason which he yieldeth showeth the least part of his meaning to be that whereunto his words are writhed. --Hooker. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To extort; to wring; to wrest. [R.] [1913 Webster]
  • The nobility hesitated not to follow the example of their sovereign in writhing money from them by every species of oppression. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'writhe'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Writhe'