Skip to main content

squirmish

An international conflict that is so politically delicate that any involvement is officially 'denied nor confirmed'.

The word is invented by governor Sarah Palin in May 2011 when she mispronounced "skirmish" when referring to the involvement of the US in the 'Arab Spring'. The word happened to perfectly describe the awkwardness of the situation.
The position of the government is totally vague, its a definite squirmish.
by Aufbakanleitung May 2, 2011
mugGet the squirmishmug.

squirmish

Noun: A state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state that isn't quite a war.
Is Libya at War or is it a ‘Squirmish’? - Sarah Palin
by dctrpunda April 25, 2011
mugGet the squirmishmug.

squirmish

adj. Cautious because of a feeling of disgust or nausea

n. A conflict, the severity and extent of which is not properly identified; a military action variously and sporadically described as a war, intervention, police action, etc.
Coined in this sense by Sarah Palin, misspeaking the word "skirmish"
"I haven't heard the president say that we are at war, and that's why I, too, am not knowing, do we use the term "intervention," do we use "war," do we use "squirmish"? What is it?"
- Sarah Palin on Fox News Channel, March 29th, 2011
by ChunAsperEndao April 16, 2011
mugGet the squirmishmug.

Squirmish

The art of calling a No Fly Zone over a region, primarily in the middle east, and bombing it.
"I, too, am not knowing, do we use the term intervention, do we use war, do we use squirmish? What is it?" -Palin
by zomeity April 16, 2011
mugGet the Squirmishmug.

Squirmish

The fight between yoda and the old senetor/emperor guy from star wars episode 3.
at target there was a toy pack that included yoda,old guy and those white trooper guys with plastic armor called the squirmish of the senate pack.
by baka kuso yaro April 22, 2011
mugGet the Squirmishmug.

Squirmish

When two people who dislike each other engage in passive-aggressive combat that makes everyone else in the room uncomfortable.
The party-planning meeting turned into a Squirmish when Nancy and Patty kept shooting down each other's ideas for Halloween treat day.
by larscooley October 15, 2016
mugGet the Squirmishmug.

squirmish

Two or more worms getting into a fight. Mixture of the words 'squirm' and 'skirmish'.
Yo, how much $$$ did you put down on that squirmish?

Forget dog fights, these days it's all about the squirmishes!
by mervstar April 17, 2011
mugGet the squirmishmug.

Share this definition