Wiggles

To move with a series of short, jerky, irregular motions. This typically involves a small, rapid back-and-forth or side-to-side oscillation. It implies a lack of steadiness or control and can be applied to both animate and inanimate objects. The movement often suggests a playful, restless, or uncertain quality. The intensity of the 'wiggles' can vary from a subtle tremor to a more pronounced shaking. The term captures a visual and often tactile sensation of unstable or erratic movement, emphasizing the absence of smooth or predictable motion. It often relates to insects, small children and the natural world.

Wiggles meaning with examples

• The puppy, overwhelmed with excitement, wiggles uncontrollably as its owner approaches, its tail blurring with rapid movement. Its whole body seems to vibrate with pure, unadulterated joy. Tiny wiggles, like the tremor of a dropped fishing rod, quickly became full body spasms, a symphony of enthusiasm.
• The child, unable to sit still during story time, wiggles constantly in her chair, her legs and arms fidgeting with restless energy. Her small body wiggles side to side while trying to read and listen; it became a struggle to keep her engaged with the story, the gentle movements betraying her short attention span.
• The worm slowly wiggles its way through the damp earth, its segmented body contracting and expanding in a rhythmic pattern. Observing the worm wiggles, and undulations, brought a sense of peace; it seemed to find ease with the movement, undisturbed by it.
• The wind causes the leaves on the trees to wiggles softly, creating a shimmering effect in the sunlight. The gentle wiggles of leaves, and the subtle movements of the bough, was so lovely I could happily spend hours watching it.
• The contents of the jar wiggles slightly during the earthquake, the glass container rattled on the shelf. The wiggles stopped, like a heart that failed and that was a sign of impending doom, of the earth's unrest.