writhyadj.
/ˈrʌɪði/, U.S. /ˈraɪði/ Given to writhing or twisting to and fro; characterized by such movements.
ΘΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > writhing or twisting movement > [adjective] > moving sinuously
writhing?1561
serpent-likea1586
wringling1596
winding1613
writhy1743
sinuous1897
1743 R. Blair Grave 19 Nor Fly, nor Insect, Nor writhy Snake, escap'd thy deep Research.
1856 Criterion 8 Mar. 299/1 Miss K. Reignold's representation of Anne Musgrave was so screamy, writhy and hysterically attitudinarian as to be distressingly ludicrous.
1904 N.Y. Times 22 Oct. 720/4 Monstrous writhy squids and cuttlefish.
2000 Portland (Maine) Press Herald (Nexis) 2 Feb. (City ed.) Noah Shibley, as the Gollum who guards the ring of invisibility, is so menacing and writhy that he had some members of the audience clinging to their mothers and fathers.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2021).
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adj.1743