TIC Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

tic

noun

ˈtik

Definition of tic

as in trick

an odd or peculiar habit constantly playing with her hair is one of her more annoying tics

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 tic The first four episodes retain most of the novel’s key incidents and tics. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026 Show your unique speaking style For decades, communication coaches counseled clients to ruthlessly eliminate verbal tics and awkward pauses. — Matt Abrahams, Time, 5 Aug. 2026 Mocking each other’s writing tics became part of the fun, just as challenging each other to go darker and twistier was part of the adventure. — Scott Westerfeld, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026 After surgery, that device is programmed to send mild electrical impulses that block abnormal nerve signals and dramatically reduce tics. — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tic

Noun

My father was the man of tricks, who sat for an hour mining a watermelon with a circular spoon, who carved the rind into a castle.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Teoxane that pulls a bit of a magic trick; metallic and foil eye shadow sticks with a magnetic design from Danessa Myricks Beauty; and a new way to perform one of plastic surgery’s most popular procedures, breast augmentation, from Motiva.

— Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of trick

Noun

Willis already has demonstrated the necessary leadership traits to be a franchise quarterback, something that often requires one to consistently fall on the sword — even if the very failure did not remotely involve you.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026
However, because individual plants may not display every characteristic, identify it by several features rather than height or any single trait.

— SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of trait

Noun

Also, its rolling olive oil cart, replete with its own menu describing the oils’ characteristics and origins, allows passengers to sample many.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
The design is part of Kairos Power’s approach to developing advanced reactors with different safety characteristics from traditional nuclear plants.

— Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of characteristic

Noun

Others noticed how similar Ella’s voice and mannerisms are to Bening’s.

— Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2026
The whole cast commits to the bit, having undoubtedly shown up to play— still, there is something about Pine’s overdone mannerisms that land with the most uproarious laughter.

— Tomris Laffly, Variety, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of mannerism

Noun

Welcome to The Athletic’s data notebook, a periodic look at the key trends, standout figures and tactical quirks shaping the Premier League season.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Fraying friendship Thanks to a geographic quirk, Louis Patenaude’s freight business straddles the border between the US and Canada.

— Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of quirk

Noun

Two new books argue that this is the wrong debate to be having, since swing voters, with all their idiosyncrasies, don’t see politics through a lens of moderates versus progressives.

— Isaac Arnsdorf, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026
Much of his work has poked at the idiosyncrasies and absurdities of modern business, some of it toeing the line between documentary and fiction.

— Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of idiosyncrasy

Noun

Its moribund eccentricities cannot be separated from the tenderness of its story because Rhys and co-writer and composer, Joss Holden-Rea, have taken the time to sculpt characters with interiority that feels invitational.

— Zachary Lee, IndieWire, 16 Sep. 2026
Joe Griffin’s sound design and Sarah Riffle’s lighting contribute to the ethereal atmosphere, while Jazmin Aurora Medina’s costumes encompass the eccentricities and menace of the strange creatures the children meet on their travels.

— Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of eccentricity

Noun

Rios had been to rehab several times, but couldn’t seem to kick the habit long term until recently, Ward said.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
Most of that problem stems from poor savings habits by governors and legislators who served prior to 2011.

— Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of habit

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tiaras

tic

tick

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“Tic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tic. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of tic

noun

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