as in to twitch
to make jerky or restless movements
small children are likely to fidget in church
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 fidget
The man fidgets, shifts around in his seat and fixates on Zarutska before pulling out a small knife and striking her multiple times around her neck.
—
Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2025
Applause intermingled with tears as the families of the Camp Mystic campers and counselors looked on, many with small children fidgeting in their Sunday-best attire behind the governor.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
Weaver recalled a recent moment with her youngest daughter, Hadley, describing how the 6-year-old began to fidget and lose focus toward the end of a homework assignment.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Quiet rooms are available for overstimulated campers, stocked with noise-canceling headphones and fidget toys.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fidget
Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2025
Applause intermingled with tears as the families of the Camp Mystic campers and counselors looked on, many with small children fidgeting in their Sunday-best attire behind the governor.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
Weaver recalled a recent moment with her youngest daughter, Hadley, describing how the 6-year-old began to fidget and lose focus toward the end of a homework assignment.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Quiet rooms are available for overstimulated campers, stocked with noise-canceling headphones and fidget toys.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fidget
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fidget
Verb
-
The bonito’s body twitched until Yamasaki slid a thin metal wire down the column of its spinal cord, a second step called shinkei jime, which arrests its nervous system.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
-
Persistent muscle twitches Everyone’s muscles twitch from time to time, usually at various locations.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The quarterly ritual when companies publicly measure themselves up against analyst estimates, squirm through conference calls, and brace for big after-hours stock moves.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
23 Jan. 2026
-
There is another issue, of course, squirming away in the soft flesh of maternity leave.—
Nell Frizzell,
Vogue,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Someone off camera then tossed him that actual T-shirt.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Failing to get a criminal conviction tossed and again complaining about the conditions at Rikers Island, Weinstein wants to begin negotiations with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg‘s office ahead of his upcoming trial, his lawyer said during a hearing Thursday.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Aisha jerked and opened her eyes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
-
That jerking motion, combined with detergent and water, loosens dirt from the surfaces of clothing.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Oldest sibling Danielle plays mandolin, James plays banjo and resonator guitar, his twin, Mark, plays guitar and Michael plays fiddle.—
Jenelyn Russo,
Oc Register,
26 Nov. 2025
-
Meanwhile, Congress fiddles while structural defects in Medicare and Social Security threaten to engulf the programs.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The high-protein hype has reached a fever pitch, and Parmesan cheese is wiggling its way into the cultural conversation.—
Michele Ross,
SELF,
20 Jan. 2026
-
No dead phones for anyone trying to wiggle out of picking up the next ride share.—
Carin Ryan,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fidget.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fidget. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
