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1
: local and habitual spasmodic motion of particular muscles especially of the face : twitching
2
: a frequent usually unconscious quirk of behavior or speech
"you know" is a verbal tic
Synonyms
Examples of tic in a Sentence
The verbal tic “you know” often occurs in her speech.
constantly playing with her hair is one of her more annoying tics
Recent Examples on the Web
An Arizona mother said her 7-year-old developed severe tics, a problem one French study has tied to the drug.
—Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2024
Memories resurface as tics, gestures, obsessions—the condensations of meaning that Freud called neurotic symptoms.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 19 Dec. 2023
Just 11 months ago, the 18-year-old faced daily struggles with involuntary tics and outbursts that forced him into isolation.
—David Begnaud, CBS News, 15 Dec. 2023
Callum, who is from Pennsylvania, has an incredibly severe case of Tourette's, a neurological disorder that can cause tics ranging from repetitive eye blinking to uncontrollable vocal — and physical — outbursts.
—David Begnaud, CBS News, 15 Dec. 2023
Dupree, now boasting 9.1 million followers on TikTok, experiences tics that often include profanity, which occurs in only about 10% of people with the disorder.
—People Staff, Peoplemag, 14 Dec. 2023
Some people might experience seizures, loss of limb function, tics, facial spasms, difficulties with speech, and loss of hearing and vision.
—Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 4 Dec. 2023
Along comes Patty Amore (Katherine Heigl), a woman who has her own share of problems, which include various tics and nervous habits.
—Nick Clement, Variety, 1 Nov. 2023
Following the chimes of church bells, a slippery breakbeat cuts itself off only to layer back atop it, like a drum kit interrupting itself mid-rant with another, more frenzied speech rife with nervous tics.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 25 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
French
First Known Use
circa 1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing tic
Dictionary Entries Near tic
Cite this Entry
“Tic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.
Kids Definition
tic
noun1
: a regularly repeated twitching movement of a particular muscle and especially one of the face
2
: a particular form of behavior or speech that is often repeated
"you know" is a verbal tic
More from Merriam-Webster on tic
Nglish: Translation of tic for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tic
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