as in tricks
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 tics
Davidson, whose tics include swearing, is expected to attend the ceremony, meaning any winner’s speech would be observed closely by producers if it were broadcast before the 9PM watershed.
—
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2026
Callum DeQuevedo struggled for seven months with severe involuntary tics, punching himself and yelling, before anyone knew why this was happening.
—Jenna Deangelis, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Catherine was the queen of self-abusing, hard-living, and heading-over-the-hill entertainment veterans — women who were trapped behind a façade of slick showbiz tics that barely covered the active volcano of psychosis bubbling right under their surface.
—Merrill Markoe, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
Video-interview tools misread autistic communication, tics, or flat affect as a lack of interest or honesty.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2026
There, the feral irreverence that once made her alluring becomes inconvenient, and Lawrence plays a series of tics in search of a character.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Davidson, who people used to call ‘Fuck off John,’ does suffer from coprolalia, or involuntary swearing, but that just one of tics that are part of his condition.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 12 Nov. 2025
According to the Cleveland Clinic, PANDAS, or pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections, refers to a group of symptoms — such as tics and obsessive-compulsive behavior — that is thought to affect kids who've had strep infections.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
These death-spiral sequences are bluntly shot in and out of focus by cinematographer Doug Emmett to capture a fraying state of mind, if James’ actorly tics and frittering weren’t enough to indicate that.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Sep. 2025
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2026
Callum DeQuevedo struggled for seven months with severe involuntary tics, punching himself and yelling, before anyone knew why this was happening.
—Jenna Deangelis, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Catherine was the queen of self-abusing, hard-living, and heading-over-the-hill entertainment veterans — women who were trapped behind a façade of slick showbiz tics that barely covered the active volcano of psychosis bubbling right under their surface.
—Merrill Markoe, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
Video-interview tools misread autistic communication, tics, or flat affect as a lack of interest or honesty.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2026
There, the feral irreverence that once made her alluring becomes inconvenient, and Lawrence plays a series of tics in search of a character.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Davidson, who people used to call ‘Fuck off John,’ does suffer from coprolalia, or involuntary swearing, but that just one of tics that are part of his condition.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 12 Nov. 2025
According to the Cleveland Clinic, PANDAS, or pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections, refers to a group of symptoms — such as tics and obsessive-compulsive behavior — that is thought to affect kids who've had strep infections.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
These death-spiral sequences are bluntly shot in and out of focus by cinematographer Doug Emmett to capture a fraying state of mind, if James’ actorly tics and frittering weren’t enough to indicate that.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tics
Noun
-
In chats among Kalshi traders on the online forum Discord, some show their reluctance to reveal their trading tricks by misdirecting.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Coleman was known for her daring stunt tricks in the air.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
At least those visual mannerisms and tropes are pretty much universal, baked into the DNA of TV casting-and-talent shows worldwide.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Bouteraa plays Lilia with restrained mannerisms, but an avalanche of emotion in her face.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That fact, plus certain skeletal traits, led some scientists to hypothesize Spinosaurus was fully aquatic, an open-water swimmer and diving pursuit predator in a marine setting.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
20 Feb. 2026
-
That places them within the typical size range for a leaf-toed gecko, but the combination of physical traits — particularly prominent white spikes across a slender body frame — sets them apart visually.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
As the Year of the Horse galloped in, revelers ushered in the most prominent festival on the Chinese Lunar calendar with some quirks – from Kung Fu robots to Harry Potter’s teenage nemesis – and some reflection.—
CNN staff,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Musicians and studio heads in the audience nodded along as the producers and engineers spoke of some of the quirks of Brian’s production approach — some unique to the project and period, like his timely fixation on analog synths; some more long-lasting.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
These characteristics are amplified by Fire, a flamboyant element that represents boldness, passion, and action.—
Marie Bladt,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Reliable characteristics in your players.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Symptoms include blood in stool or rectal bleeding; changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea, constipation or narrowing of stool that lasts more than a few days; unintended weight loss; and cramps or abdominal pain.—
Lauran Neergaard,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Find out how your cooking habits match up to the rest of the world.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For all its ills, social media can also be an entry point for anyone interested in Chicago history and the city’s varied eccentricities.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
But while his own work is marked by coincidences and unexpected bookends, some provided by the universe and some engineered by the filmmaker, at its core, it’s defined by an unswerving faith in the boundless eccentricities and fascinating fixations of other people.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Black bears are one of Carr's favorite animals, as their playful antics and uncanny idiosyncrasies reveal an intelligent soul behind beady eyes.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
My bud Patrick Ryan talked with the stars about how the movie cheekily explores the power dynamics of submissive and dominant relationships, plus got the scoop on the idiosyncrasies of acting in the buff.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tics.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tics. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
