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
When Karen goes to visit Hanneke in the hospital, Hanneke’s hand starts to twitch. — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026 The 5-11, 210-pounder is a sudden cutter who runs with power and twitch, attacking space like a great punt returner. — Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
That quick-twitch juice shows in pads. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2026 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 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
  • During the test, Linton jerked and twitched in what prosecutors described as an attempt to fake a seizure.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Drivers should never swerve or jerk the steering wheel, the state patrol said.
    — Celia Frazier, Denver Post, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of jerk
Noun
  • Potassium supports fluid balance and muscle contraction and is part of an eating pattern associated with healthy blood pressure.
    — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Flex your calves often Weight-bearing physical activity of any sort supports blood flow in the legs because of how muscular contractions help the veins push blood toward the heart, Jimenez said.
    — Erica Sloan, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of contraction
Noun
  • No one sat closer to the tremors than Brad White, Florida’s new defensive leader and longtime friend of new coach Jon Sumrall.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The quiet catcher had loudly blasted a ball that sent Chavez Ravine into tremors.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of tremor
Verb
  • In the back, tanks bubbled with live lobsters while crawfish squirmed in boxes nearby.
    — Sara Rosenthal, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Laura squirmed under her mother’s gaze, willed the light to turn green.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of squirm
Verb
  • Ignoring that rule could get flood insurance coverage yanked for an entire community.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Now, historic preservation advocates say, the government is trying to yank the public's power away.
    — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of yank
Noun
  • Just take his February fall collection, which mashed up decades of American glamour with a sneaky British twinge.
    — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of twinge
Noun
  • Now, 10 years later, footage and photos from the day Scott died still bring a quiver to his lip and tear to his cheek.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Richards, who has always sung his blues songs with a vocal quiver that owes a debt to Reed, plays the guitar with a little more force than Reed did and affects something of a Mississippi-via-Dartford drawl on the vocals.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 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 21 Oct. 2026.

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