as in tricks
an odd or peculiar habit
constantly playing with her hair is one of her more annoying tics
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Recent Examples of tics
Physical tics can be as subtle as eye blinking, or involve jerking the arms, or stretching the neck.
—
Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026
Services are available that humanize AI tics.
—Walt Hunter, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
Nadal, with a wink, recites the various physical tics involved in his serving routine.
—Ava Wallace, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Here, the British actor appears to take on Hansen’s vocal patterns and tics with an eerie, off-kilter precision, as those familiar with the infamous true-crime host can attest.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2026
Eilish shares reaction to her tics Eilish was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome at age 11.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 6 May 2026
The movie depicts Davidson in clinical trials in 2022 at the University of Nottingham, which is developing an MNS (median nerve stimulator) that can be worn as a bracelet to reduce tics.
—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
Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026
Services are available that humanize AI tics.
—Walt Hunter, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
Nadal, with a wink, recites the various physical tics involved in his serving routine.
—Ava Wallace, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Here, the British actor appears to take on Hansen’s vocal patterns and tics with an eerie, off-kilter precision, as those familiar with the infamous true-crime host can attest.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2026
Eilish shares reaction to her tics Eilish was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome at age 11.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 6 May 2026
The movie depicts Davidson in clinical trials in 2022 at the University of Nottingham, which is developing an MNS (median nerve stimulator) that can be worn as a bracelet to reduce tics.
—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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tics
Noun
-
Pink started things literally inverted, with one of her famous aerial tricks to begin her opening number.—
Alex Apatoff,
PEOPLE,
8 June 2026
-
Here are four tricks for keeping your parked car cooler during the summer.—
Molly Burford,
Southern Living,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Most warm weather breeds share unique physical traits that keep them cool in high temperatures.—
Madeline Gunderson,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
Barring Bowen, only Tomas Soucek has leadership traits.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Yet even among all the familiar quirks, there was one revelation that caught the family off guard.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
-
In this macho sport, Brunson, Hart and Bridges don’t try to hide their friendship and all of the quirks that come with it.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
That creative industry may ultimately become one of LA28's defining characteristics.—
Tim Genske,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
-
Garbett adds other characteristics too.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Noun
-
Online resale app Vinted is seeing a structural shift in consumer behaviour, as habits form around the resale economy, the company’s marketplace boss told CNBC on Monday.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
-
Berries are packed with antioxidants, fiber and vitamin C, so his healthy eating habits should put me, the proud grandmother, in a happy place, right?—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
9 June 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
-
Of course, in addition to being perfect by becoming a doctor, John had selected, despite her eccentricities, the perfect mate in their parents’ eyes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 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
Cite this Entry
“Tics.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tics. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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