as in trick
an odd or peculiar habit
constantly playing with her hair is one of her more annoying tics
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Recent Examples of tic
Instead, Hackman leaned into physicality - from facial tics to looks - to portray a scared introvert in one of his most subtle performances that was nevertheless powerful.
—
Lisa Respers France, CNN, 2 Mar. 2025
The goal was not to do the most precise impression so much as to feel comfortable enough to forget about doing all the tics and instead live in (and improvise as) the character.
—Marc Tracy, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025
But when Mayhem’s versatility starts to feel like the artist second-guessing her own musical tics, the album flashes its credentials as a member of a class of artists concerned with the future of their creative legacies.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2025
But often the metaphors seem something of a tic, and a tiresome one.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tic
Lisa Respers France, CNN, 2 Mar. 2025
The goal was not to do the most precise impression so much as to feel comfortable enough to forget about doing all the tics and instead live in (and improvise as) the character.
—Marc Tracy, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025
But when Mayhem’s versatility starts to feel like the artist second-guessing her own musical tics, the album flashes its credentials as a member of a class of artists concerned with the future of their creative legacies.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2025
But often the metaphors seem something of a tic, and a tiresome one.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tic
Noun
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The trick is to find multiple locations that are close enough together and decide on a menu that feels cohesive.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
3 May 2025
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The trick will be whether the Bruins are paying for a career year or reliable future performance.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Noun
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Essential traits of a successful partnership include trust, open communication and aligned objectives.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
5 May 2025
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Evergreen shrubs provide year-round privacy, while deciduous shrubs add ornamental traits such as flowers and fall foliage.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 May 2025
Noun
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Titan shows all the characteristics of a planet – including rivers, lakes, clouds, rain and even a salty subsurface ocean.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
12 May 2025
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Democrats are divided, with about half saying gender identity can differ from biological characteristics at birth.—
Geoff Mulvihill,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2025
Noun
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Rogers embodies that transformation with finesse, capturing Betty's signature voice and mannerisms while infusing the character with contemporary depth and relatability.—
Dave Quinn,
People.com,
16 May 2025
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Bringing his signature chaotic energy, Robinson is known for his intense promos and wild ringside mannerisms.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
Noun
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Cannabis laws are a patchwork of contradictions, quirks, and outright oddities.—
Tribune Content Agency,
Mercury News,
6 May 2025
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Thornton firmly believes that each client’s home should be a reflection of their personal style and that their soul, passions, and quirks should be found on the walls and in the furniture throughout the home.—
Dan Howarth,
Architectural Digest,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In an expansive interview alongside playwright and filmmaker David Mamet, LaBeouf spoke about how his and Coppola's disparate idiosyncrasies often led to frustrations on set of the sprawling sci-fi drama, which had been a decades-long passion project for Coppola but ended up as a high-profile flop.—
Jessica Wang,
EW.com,
8 May 2025
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Those idiosyncrasies are what make the sport so exceptional.—
Jim Root,
The Athletic,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Through the divination trial, the audience learns that much of Lilia’s eccentricity comes from her experience living life out of order, giving more context to moments earlier in the season, where the character would blurt out what seemed to be random statements.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
12 May 2025
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Lyonne forged a career by finding and later creating projects that capitalized on her undeniably intrepid personality, wrapping the roles around her eccentricities rather than conforming to what was expected of a female performer in Hollywood.—
Lorraine Ali,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2025
Noun
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Develop active listening habits Practice focusing entirely on what others are saying rather than formulating your response.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
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Encourage critical thinking, discussions about activism or policy, and personal responsibility, such as changing their consumption habits or volunteering.—
Taylor Grothe,
Parents,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tic. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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