writhe

/ɹaɪð/

//ɹaɪð// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"writhe" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“writhe” is uncommon English (frequency #72,036 among 12,113 “W” headwords), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#72,036
frequency rank, English
12,113
“W” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To twist, wring (something).

Key facts for writhe
PropertyValue
Headwordwrithe
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɹaɪð/
Letters6
Frequency rank#72,036
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “writhe” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). writhe lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

writhe is uncommon English at frequency #72,036 among 12,113 “W” headwords, classed as averb, transcribed /ɹaɪð/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for writhe, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English writhen, from Old English wrīþan, from Proto-West Germanic *wrīþan, from Proto-Germanic *wrīþaną (“to weave, twist, turn”), from Proto-Indo-European *wreyt- (“to twist, writhe”). Cognate with Middle Dutch writen (“to turn, twist”), diale… The correct English form is writhe, spelled W-R-I-T-H-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To twist, wring (something).
  2. 2
    To contort (a part of the body).
  3. 3
    To twist bodily; to contort one's self; to be distorted.
  4. 4
    To extort.

Etymology

From Middle English writhen, from Old English wrīþan, from Proto-West Germanic *wrīþan, from Proto-Germanic *wrīþaną (“to weave, twist, turn”), from Proto-Indo-European *wreyt- (“to twist, writhe”). Cognate with Middle Dutch writen (“to turn, twist”), dialectal German reiden (“to turn, twist, lace”), Danish vride (“to twist”), Swedish vrida (“to turn, twist, wind”), French rider (“to wrinkle, furrow, ruffle”, (< Germanic)). Compare also Lithuanian riēsti (“to unbend, wind, roll”).

This word in other languages

contorsionar(Español)se débattre(Français)verdrehen(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "writhe"?
"writhe" is spelled W-R-I-T-H-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɹaɪð/.
What does "writhe" mean?
As a verb, "writhe" means: To twist, wring (something).
How do you pronounce "writhe"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "writhe" is /ɹaɪð/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "writhe"?
From Middle English writhen, from Old English wrīþan, from Proto-West Germanic *wrīþan, from Proto-Germanic *wrīþaną (“to weave, twist, turn”), from Proto-Indo-European *wreyt- (“to twist, writhe”). Cognate with Middle Dutch writen (“to turn, twis... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “writhe”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is W-R-I-T-H-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɹaɪð/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list