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
Once Ida is revived, Buckley is rife with tics and guttural asides, switching between rat-a-tat mobster slang and Shelley’s flowery English prose like some postmodern literary Gollum.
—
David Sims, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
In the mid-2010s, Young Thug borrowed from Future’s melodic blueprint, only for Future to co-opt Thug’s avant-garde vocal tics to get even weirder in his own right.
—Serge Selenou, Pitchfork, 3 Mar. 2026
Davidson’s Tourette’s causes involuntary tics, and he was heard cursing throughout the show, however the BBC failed to censor the N-word during its broadcast, causing further harm.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026
Davidson has coprolalia, where one’s involuntary tics are offensive and inappropriate.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 1 Mar. 2026
In stressful situations, such as attending a high-stakes awards show, for example, tics can intensify; Davidson made other outbursts throughout the ceremony, and eventually decided to remove himself to a private screening room.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
Deadline journalists sat towards the back of the room said the N-word and other slurs were audible, as were gasps when Davidson made his involuntary tics.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 27 Feb. 2026
These tics are often associated with more severe symptoms overall, more co-occurring conditions and greater social difficulty.
—Rena Zito, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
David Sims, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
In the mid-2010s, Young Thug borrowed from Future’s melodic blueprint, only for Future to co-opt Thug’s avant-garde vocal tics to get even weirder in his own right.
—Serge Selenou, Pitchfork, 3 Mar. 2026
Davidson’s Tourette’s causes involuntary tics, and he was heard cursing throughout the show, however the BBC failed to censor the N-word during its broadcast, causing further harm.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026
Davidson has coprolalia, where one’s involuntary tics are offensive and inappropriate.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 1 Mar. 2026
In stressful situations, such as attending a high-stakes awards show, for example, tics can intensify; Davidson made other outbursts throughout the ceremony, and eventually decided to remove himself to a private screening room.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
Deadline journalists sat towards the back of the room said the N-word and other slurs were audible, as were gasps when Davidson made his involuntary tics.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 27 Feb. 2026
These tics are often associated with more severe symptoms overall, more co-occurring conditions and greater social difficulty.
—Rena Zito, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tics
Noun
-
Tiffany has a few tricks up its sleeve that aren’t jewelry or limited-edition chronograph, one of which is this shapely teapot.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Maybe the tricks learned during this trial can help drivers form some better, cheaper habits to continue when gas prices inevitably decrease again.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Nor does Thomas, with all his erudition and vatic mannerisms, manage to have with his son anything close to the loving, reciprocal relationship that Max has with Emmie.—
Hannah Gold,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
-
His young nephew provided the entertainment, whacking a plastic ball around with a toy club on the lawn, replicating pro golf mannerisms a little too closely.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Instilling those traits through hard coaching doesn’t connect directly to how players respond to injuries or how those injuries are treated by training and medical staffs.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Simmons is an intriguing player with a strong draft pedigree and unusual traits.—
Mike Kaye
March 26,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Part of the beauty in these bonds is the ability to be truly seen and known—quirks and all.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
31 Mar. 2026
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That included removing, repairing and replacing the building’s tin roof tiles — which look like clay — and maintaining the original window casings, matching the stucco and preserving quirks like porthole windows.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Riboua argued that the Guards’ ideology can be mainly characterized by a pragmatism with hardliner characteristics.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The interactive Olaf can speak and engage in conversations, and his mannerisms and characteristics are spot on.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For Sacramento residents like Isabelle Fama, 24, the steady increase in fuel costs has led her to change certain habits over the last month.—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In addition to Dougie, Rockin’ Grandma’s employees all have their eccentricities.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
19 Mar. 2026
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With the exception of the central character played by Judy Greer, all the figures onscreen display the sort of eccentricities that are presumably meant to be either amusing or endearing but instead simply come across as odd.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
So the city’s idiosyncrasies have always appealed to me.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Polymarket is in the business of transforming the news cycle into a series of hedgable data points; real estate, with all its possible variables and idiosyncrasies, is a natural extension.—
Molly Osberg,
Curbed,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tics.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tics. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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