as in trick
an odd or peculiar habit
constantly playing with her hair is one of her more annoying tics
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Some patients on chlorpromazine developed mild tremors or tics.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
His tics are not naughty mischief, but an uncontrollable action.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tic
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
Some patients on chlorpromazine developed mild tremors or tics.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
His tics are not naughty mischief, but an uncontrollable action.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tic
Noun
-
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
-
Most warm weather breeds share unique physical traits that keep them cool in high temperatures.—
Madeline Gunderson,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
Adapting Your Leadership Style To Meet Individual Needs Situational leadership is an overlooked but important trait.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Trained on hours and hours of professional recordings, the AI simulation mimics Lee’s distinctive voice, expressions and mannerisms.—
Rob Salkowitz,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Many savings and loans, retail banks created by quirks in banking law decades earlier, made reckless investments when the Fed’s high interest rates in the early 1980s crushed their traditional business.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
31 May 2026
-
Another quirk of being on the home side of the draw is that PSG will get to use the home dressing room at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Even a Massie win, as one strategist told Salon, wouldn’t necessarily justify clean conclusions about the President given the idiosyncrasies of Massie’s district, which stretches from the Cincinnati suburbs to the West Virginia border.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
That the series houses its mad science experiments and cartoonish fight scenes in familiar packaging goes a long way toward keeping it accessible, but the charming eccentricities and their astute implementation add up to a Spider-story worth investing in — bring on the strange.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
22 May 2026
-
Sure, there are several social butterflies across the zodiac—Leo, Sagittarius, Aquarius, to name a few—but Geminis are famous for their magnetic eccentricity which captivates just about anyone in their orbit.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
21 May 2026
Noun
-
Instead, Pagano and Dozier suggest having gentle, boundary-setting conversations that might encourage a loved one to address their hoarding habits.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
-
The mistake is to let organizational habit decide.—
Serguei Netessine,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tic. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
