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
The Trumpian superlative tic took his boasts well beyond the general.
—
Dan Alexander, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Eilish shares reaction to her tics Eilish was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome at age 11.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 6 May 2026
Y’know, that certain vocal style or guitar tone or even decade-specific production tic that transports us like the meal at the end of Ratatouille to joyous remembrances of times past.
—Brendan Hay, SPIN, 1 May 2026
And if the Queen can react with compassion to tics, surely that understanding and empathy lives in all of us.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tic
Dan Alexander, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Eilish shares reaction to her tics Eilish was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome at age 11.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 6 May 2026
Y’know, that certain vocal style or guitar tone or even decade-specific production tic that transports us like the meal at the end of Ratatouille to joyous remembrances of times past.
—Brendan Hay, SPIN, 1 May 2026
And if the Queen can react with compassion to tics, surely that understanding and empathy lives in all of us.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tic
Noun
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And are there any tips and tricks for planning and executing the perfect anti-aging trip?—
Alessandra Signorelli,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
-
Since Hathaway's viral video, people have posted themselves doing her trick, sometimes to shocking results.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Noun
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The order from Phelan, who later abruptly departed his post in April, said the board should consider an officer's performance, competence and character, among other traits, as part of those qualifications.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
-
After several records of muted ideas, Death Cab for Cutie sound emboldened again while recalling the songwriting traits that once set them apart in a sea of indie-rock bands who’ve since petered out.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
6 June 2026
Noun
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On the other hand, LiPfe orbs don’t reproduce, and reproduction is one of the fundamental characteristics of life.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
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Her analysis showed that at least a dozen of those fossils displayed characteristics hinting at a novel Tylosaurus species.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Noun
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Members of the community are typically assigned male at birth, occasionally intersex, and adopt traditionally feminine dress, names, pronouns, and mannerisms.—
Charles Preston,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
28 May 2026
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For Ellie Bamber, successfully capturing Kate Moss‘ effortless charm wasn’t just about nailing her voice, style, or any of the fashion icon’s mannerisms.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
27 May 2026
Noun
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Yet even among all the familiar quirks, there was one revelation that caught the family off guard.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
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To revitalize Livermore’s downtown, the city first had to overcome a serious quirk of its geography.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026
Noun
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As the title implies, the show trumpets the artist’s idiosyncrasy, which feels ever more at odds with the cultural moment.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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Plowden’s own professional idiosyncrasies included never using a flash — instead favoring available light — and in particular shooting with his Hasselblad camera during the waning light of day.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2026
Noun
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Where the movie’s true eccentricity comes in is in its combination of breezy comedy with shocking brutality and gore, perhaps most exemplified in an oddly casual moment in a morgue where Seagal and Wayans find a clue in the form of a serial number on a dead woman’s breast implant.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
5 June 2026
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Luna spends the day in the socially conscious sign of Aquarius, shifting the emotional tone toward intellect, perspective, eccentricity and detachment.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
Noun
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College football has a habit of romanticizing the past in ways that don’t match the actual results.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2026
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This is especially true this month, as the astro-weather challenges everything from your friendships and group dynamics to your day-to-day habits and emotional boundaries.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tic. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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