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

Widespread damaging wind gusts and flooding rainfall are still to come as storms hit areas already battered by a multi-day onslaught of twisters, massive hail and historic flooding. —Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026

In Clinton, Missouri, two twisters struck Wednesday night, sending trees crashing onto Andrew Donaldson's roof and garage. —Sarah Lynch Baldwin, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026

Earlier on Monday evening, the storm system spawned an EF-2 twister that through four blocks of Ottawa, Kansas, a town of about 13,000, some 25 miles west of Hillsdale. —Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2026

April and May hold the most tornadic activity for North Texas since 1880, with more than 1,100 twisters confirmed between the two months, according to National Weather Service Fort Worth data. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026

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