twister

noun

twist·​er ˈtwi-stər 

1

: one that twists

especially : a ball with a forward and spinning motion

2

: a tornado, waterspout, or dust devil in which the rotatory ascending movement of a column of air is especially apparent

Examples of twister in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s the dark area most likely to produce a twister. —Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025

More than a dozen twisters ripped across Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri overnight Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, leaving at least three people dead and several others injured. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025

There were no immediate reports of injuries, but the twister heavily damaged the roofs of homes and knocked down power lines, trees, fences and sheds. —CBS News, 3 Apr. 2025

Residents received a tornado warning from the National Weather Service just 17 minutes before the twister made its touch down on the city’s western edge, leading to one of the deadliest tornadoes in the nation’s history. —Alex Gurley, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing twister

• tongue twister

Rhymes for twister

• blister
• lyster
• mister
• sister
• resister
• resistor
• stepsister
• transistor

Kids Definition

twister

noun

twist·​er ˈtwis-tər 

1

: one that twists

2

a

: tornado

b

: waterspout sense 2