twitch 1 of 2

verb

ˈtwich How to pronounce twitch (audio)
Definition of twitchnext
1
as in to fidget
to make jerky or restless movements the dog twitched in her sleep

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to jerk
to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion the rabbit twitched its nose

Synonyms & Similar Words

twitch

2 of 2

noun

1
as in contraction

Related Words
2
as in tremor

Related Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of twitch
Verb
Leon Stetson was allegedly twitching, so officers moved him away from Carrie Stetson and started to render medical aid. — Kellie Love, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026 Durrell alternates between slapstick domestic high jinks, wanderings through the lush natural landscape, and increasingly ambitious investigations of biological life, from tracking twitching bacteria in pond water to the mating habits of insects. — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 10 June 2026
Noun
As the virus attacks the nervous system, canines may also exhibit neurologic signs such as walking in circles, inability to follow a straight path, lack of coordination, muscle twitches, seizures and even partial or complete paralysis. — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 21 May 2026 It’s not made explicitly clear if these seemingly sympathetic kids are actually his worst bullies, but Machado-Graner’s eyes, lip twitch, and throat gulp in this short sequence tell a whole story in themselves. — Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for twitch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for twitch
  1. fidget
  2. jerk
  3. contraction
  4. tremor
  5. squirm
  6. yank
  7. twinge
  8. quiver
Verb
  • Following this concern, 55% of parents said their top concern was their child’s ability to complete multistep tasks such as homework while 45% of parents cited fidgeting.
    — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The current boom is driven by Gen Z’s openness about mental health, social-commerce virality on TikTok and Etsy, and a broader nervous-system regulation movement that treats fidgeting as a legitimate coping tool rather than a bad habit.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of fidget
Verb
  • But in 1933, within a matter of days, they were jerked back into reality.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Stuttering lines, on the left, jerking up and down, denote the rattle of guns; on the right, the lines are all but flat, as silence descends.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of jerk
Noun
  • The dip over the past few years was driven primarily by a major contraction of the offshore wind industry.
    — Eugenia Perozo, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026
  • With basic cable on the decline and HBO Max pulling away from kids and family original programming, Register’s domain has undergone contraction since Warner Bros Animation’s heyday.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of contraction
Noun
  • But in some cases, West Nile can reach the brain and cause extreme headaches, meningitis, tremors, convulsions and paralysis.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 2026
  • It’s known for triggering tremors, which generally start in the extremities like the hands.
    — Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of tremor
Verb
  • Where Raphael’s infant Christ is plump, acquiescent, docile, Cassatt’s children squirm, resist, and ignore authority.
    — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Its defenders will have to do better than making Infantino squirm.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of squirm
Verb
  • The trooper grabs the man by his wrist and his dreadlocks and began yanking his upper body through the window, the video shows.
    — Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2026
  • As the man was unconscious, Slawson was accused of yanking the suspect out of the police vehicle, causing the man to hit and split his head on the concrete, the press release stated.
    — Christian Cervantes, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of yank
Noun
  • Then came the third inning, a sudden twinge of pain in Carson Whisenhunt’s left elbow and an escort to the trainer’s room.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Gerber and Homer Gere don’t share any parents, but the connection adds a pseudo-incestuous twinge to their characters’ mutual attraction.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of twinge
Noun
  • Silence is palpable in the portraits of the men, photographs that show hardship coexisting with resilience, that quiver with pathos but do not collapse.
    — Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Asked whether his first dates — sorry, podcast editions — should ideally end with a kiss of sorts gets Glassman to his stand-up act, where talk of dating etiquette and rules fill his comedic quiver.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026
Definition of quiver

Browse Nearby Words

twit
twitch
twitched
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Cite this Entry

“Twitch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/twitch. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on twitch

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about twitch

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