wiggle

Meaning

Verb

To move with irregular, back and forward or side to side motions; to shake or jiggle.

Noun

1. A rapid movement in alternating opposite directions, not necessarily regular.
2. (figuratively) An alternating state or characteristic.
3. (in-plural) See wiggles.

Synonyms

wriggle

squirm

shake

🫨

jiggle

wag

waggle

joggle

wobble

twitch

swing

wigwag

waddle

brandish

twist

writhe

flourish

shimmy

jerk

slither

totter

toddle

sway

fidget

pendulate

pendulum motion

thread one’s way

move about restlessly

oscillating movement

jigging motion

swing motion

beckon

nodding action

crawl

dither

fiddle

flap

flit

flop

flutter

move

oscillate

peristalsis

quake

quiver

ripple

shiver

shudder

slink

slip

stalk

Translations

wackeln

meneo

se tortiller

wiebelen

dimenare

s’agiter

menear

contonear

schwänzeln

kımıldamak

agiter

κινώ παλινδρομικά

zittern

sacudir

kıpırdaşmak

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈwɪɡəl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: wiglen

Cognate with Dutch: wieg

Cognate with Dutch: wiggelen

In summary

From Middle English wiglen, probably from Middle Dutch wigelen (“to wiggle”) and perhaps Middle Low German wigelen, frequentative of wiegen (“to rock”), from wiege (“cradle”). See wain, and Dutch wieg (“cradle”). Cognate to Dutch wiggelen (“to wiggle”).