ジワジワ

〈事こと〉がジワジワ(と)広ひろがるfor something to spread gradually and steadily
うわさがジワジワと広ひろがっていった。
The rumor spread slowly but steadily.
〈物もの〉がジワジワ(と)しみ込こむfor a liquid to seep in slowly
雨あま水みずが地じ面めんにジワジワとしみ込こんでいった。
The rainwater slowly seeped into the ground.
〈物もの〉がジワジワ(と)効きいてくるfor an effect to gradually take hold
薬くすりがジワジワと効きいてきた。
The medicine gradually started to take effect.
汗あせがジワジワ(と)出でるfor sweat to gradually well up
暑あつさで汗あせがジワジワと出でてきた。
Sweat gradually started beading up from the heat.
〈事こと〉がジワジワ(と)迫せまるfor something (a deadline, danger, etc.) to close in gradually
締しめ切きりがジワジワと迫せまってきた。
The deadline was steadily closing in.

Related words· 6

じわりN1sense 1
じわり describes a single gradual shift or seep, while ジワジワ emphasizes a continuous, drawn-out process of the same kind.
徐じょ々じょにN3sense 1
徐々に is a more neutral, formal word for gradual change, whereas ジワジワ is a mimetic word that adds a sense of relentless or palpable creeping progress.
少すこしずつ sense 1
少しずつ simply means 'little by little' in a plain, countable sense, while ジワジワ conveys an ongoing, often felt or sensed gradual process.
じりじりN1
じりじり often carries tension or impatience in its gradual progression, while じわじわ describes a softer, more spread-out advance like liquid soaking in.

Show 2 more

ひしひしN1
じわじわ describes something spreading or taking effect gradually, while ひしひし emphasizes how strongly or acutely something is felt, often suddenly.
ポツポツN1
じわじわ describes something spreading or advancing slowly and steadily, while ポツポツ describes something happening in small, discrete increments rather than a continuous creep.

急きゅうにN4sense 1
急に describes a sudden, abrupt change, the opposite of the slow, steady progression described by ジワジワ.
突とつ然ぜんN3sense 1
突然 means 'suddenly, out of nowhere', contrasting with ジワジワ's sense of a gradual, creeping change.

じりじりN1sense 1
じりじり also describes gradual advance but carries a stronger sense of impatience, tension, or scorching heat, whereas ジワジワ is more neutral about the feeling involved.

ジワジワUsage19%
Katakana spelling is common for this mimetic adverb; high priority.
じわじわUsage81%
Hiragana spelling is also used.

Mimetic word; the exact origin is uncertain, but the reduplicated form ジワジワ evokes a slow, continuous action or sensation.