as in to twitch
to make jerky or restless movements
small children are likely to fidget in church
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fidget
When fastened, the zippers are locked in place, and pickpockets would have to fidget for a moment to get the gadget undone, giving you time to react.
—
Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
The design was inspired by the hair-tearing boredom of COVID lockdown-era remote work, a time in which Knafs founder Ben Petersen maintained sanity during Zoom calls by fidgeting around with pocket knives and doodling pictures.
—New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2026
One woman ordered some home furniture while two children fidgeted nearby.
—David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
Between each dance was an excruciating silence during which network-TV producers monitored and reset their equipment while the men fidgeted onstage like excitable children.
—Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fidget
Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
The design was inspired by the hair-tearing boredom of COVID lockdown-era remote work, a time in which Knafs founder Ben Petersen maintained sanity during Zoom calls by fidgeting around with pocket knives and doodling pictures.
—New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2026
One woman ordered some home furniture while two children fidgeted nearby.
—David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
Between each dance was an excruciating silence during which network-TV producers monitored and reset their equipment while the men fidgeted onstage like excitable children.
—Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fidget
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fidget
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
Verb
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Unless your companion could use a hand or is traveling with young kids (in the latter case, if this person also happens to be your spouse or partner, really not cool to leave them with the stroller, diaper bag, squirming kids).—
CNT Editors,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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Some circles encourage silence, not as a time to squirm, but as the most generative time for listening.—
Ginny Whitelaw,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Villanova would toss the Owls aside by 20 for its 22nd consecutive win against their Philly opponents, a walkover victory that barely moved the needle anywhere outside of the city limits.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
Add salmon to the remaining glaze in the bowl; toss gently to coat.—
Emily Teel,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Although not all the novel’s major characters make it to the end of this uplifting yet tear-jerking work of historical fiction, Six-Thirty safely perseveres.—
Camille Perri,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
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My biggest frustration is the way the operators literally jerk us around with the sudden hard stops.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
Verb
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On Sunday, the lineup includes Tatiana Hargreaves, a rising-star in the bluegrass fiddling scene, with her band and special guest Michael Daves; the honky-tonk duo Caleb Lauder and Reeb Wllms with their band the Cali Cutups; and Pleasanton native and all-world strings player Tony Furtado.—
Randy McMullen,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
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The contract model means that when Congress fiddles, it isn’t impacted.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And then a small bird would swoop through the frame, or a breeze would cause the dry brush to wiggle in unison as if dancing.—
Megan Spurrell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
8 June 2026
-
Femi tried to hit Lesnar with a Fall from Grace, but Lesnar wiggled out of it.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fidget.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fidget. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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