fidgets 1 of 2

plural noun

ˈfi-jət How to pronounce fidgets (audio)
as in anxiety
a state of nervousness marked by sudden jerky movements one dental patient in the waiting room had a bad case of the fidgets

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fidgets

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of fidget
as in twitches
to make jerky or restless movements small children are likely to fidget in church

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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 fidgets
Verb
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fidgets
  1. twitches
  2. squirms
  3. tosses
  4. jerks
  5. wiggles
  6. fiddles
Verb
  • Persistent muscle twitches Everyone’s muscles twitch from time to time, usually at various locations.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
  • Some devices, for example, track eye movements or other small muscle twitches to let users select words from a screen.
    — Emma R. Hasson, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2025
Definition of twitches
Verb
  • The 420 Sport jostles and squirms on these surfaces at low speeds, but the payoff is unfiltered, no-nonsense feedback.
    — Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 22 July 2026
  • When Brian and Murtagh report that Dougal offended the Grants and Colum had to promise Ellen’s hand to appease the situation, Lord Lovat squirms.
    — Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Definition of squirms
Verb
  • A student tosses a metal barrier during a protest at Strasbourg University in eastern France on Friday.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Love finished 16 of 29 for 145 yards with TD tosses to Christian Watson and MarShawn Lloyd for the Packers, whose six-game skid — including the playoffs — was their longest since dropping seven in a row spanning the 1990 and 1991 seasons.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of tosses
Verb
  • In a viral video of the aftermath, the robot jerks back and forth to shake the glass off, showering yet more dangerous shards onto the sidewalk.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Ross’s video does not show if the SUV made contact with him, as the camera angle jerks up to the sky.
    — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
Definition of jerks
Verb
  • Buttermilk the cow is an interactive toy that sings, wiggles its ears, and teaches little ones animal sounds.
    — Anja Webb, Parents, 28 Nov. 2025
  • His body wiggles with excitement, signaling his tail is wagging.
    — Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
Definition of wiggles
Verb
  • The contract model means that when Congress fiddles, it isn’t impacted.
    — The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 22 Mar. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Congress fiddles while structural defects in Medicare and Social Security threaten to engulf the programs.
    — Editorial, Boston Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
Definition of fiddles

Browse Nearby Words

fidgeting
fidgets
fidgety
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Cite this Entry

“Fidgets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fidgets. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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