twitchy

adjective

ˈtwi-chē 

twitchier; twitchiest

1

: marked by twitches or jerking movements : tending to twitch

Oliver did not think he would be able to sleep, but he did sleep—a restless, twitchy sleep filled with hideous dreams.

—Eva Ibbotson

Round-shouldered yet angular, he walked in a twitchy manner that recalled a spider, his oily hair swinging about his face.

—J. K. Rowling

2

: nervously on edge or fretful

This revelation was an incredible relief to those of us who get a little twitchy at the thought of making pasta …

—Jane Daniels Lear

There was action every minute, and so much momentum carrying the story forward that until I finished it, I was in a sort of twitchy agony if I got stuck doing anything else.

—Eric Konigsberg

Synonyms

• antsy
• fidgety
• squirmy
• wiggly
• wriggly

Examples of twitchy in a Sentence

examining the twitchy little poodle was a challenge for the vet

Recent Examples on the Web

Gunna is a guest on the DMV native’s single but feels right at home with his close friend Turbo helming the twitchy production. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 24 June 2024

After showing his potential as a twitchy outfielder with a rocket arm, Mays made the team. —Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 18 June 2024

Every degree of movement in the (nicely weighted) steering translated to movement at the nose without being too twitchy, and the steering ratio has been very well-judged. —Peter Nelson, Ars Technica, 1 June 2024

As a result, and though Edelman might come off twitchy and needy onstage, Just for Us is a special of uncommon confidence. —Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 30 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1