TWITCH Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

twitch 1 of 2

verb

ˈtwich

Definition of twitch

as in to fidget

to make jerky or restless movements the dog twitched in her sleep

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to jerk

to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion the rabbit twitched its nose

Synonyms & Similar Words

twitch

2 of 2

noun

as in contraction

Related Words

as in tremor

Related Words

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 twitch

Verb

Leon Stetson was allegedly twitching, so officers moved him away from Carrie Stetson and started to render medical aid. — Kellie Love, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026 Durrell alternates between slapstick domestic high jinks, wanderings through the lush natural landscape, and increasingly ambitious investigations of biological life, from tracking twitching bacteria in pond water to the mating habits of insects. — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 10 June 2026

Noun

As the virus attacks the nervous system, canines may also exhibit neurologic signs such as walking in circles, inability to follow a straight path, lack of coordination, muscle twitches, seizures and even partial or complete paralysis. — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 21 May 2026 It’s not made explicitly clear if these seemingly sympathetic kids are actually his worst bullies, but Machado-Graner’s eyes, lip twitch, and throat gulp in this short sequence tell a whole story in themselves. — Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for twitch

Recent Examples of Synonyms for twitch

Verb

Following this concern, 55% of parents said their top concern was their child’s ability to complete multistep tasks such as homework while 45% of parents cited fidgeting.

— Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Aug. 2026
The current boom is driven by Gen Z’s openness about mental health, social-commerce virality on TikTok and Etsy, and a broader nervous-system regulation movement that treats fidgeting as a legitimate coping tool rather than a bad habit.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of fidget

Verb

And like any great sitcom, Friends runs the gamut from numbing brain-rot to tear-jerking sentimentality.

— Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 9 Sep. 2026
The production’s winking tone blunts some of the original’s tear-jerking climax, yet its intact happy ending offers a surprisingly comforting vision of survival in an age of constant crises.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of jerk

Noun

That’s where cognition becomes impaired, muscle contraction becomes impaired, and metabolism actually slows.

— Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Such optimism had for years been hard to find in a Hollywood ravaged by the pandemic, wildfires, labor strife, contraction and technological upheaval.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of contraction

Noun

Parkinson’s disease is a condition characterized by tremors, muscle rigidity, and problems with balance.

— Mike McRae September 10, New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2026
None of Tuesday's eruptions could be observed visually because the volcano was shrouded in dense fog, but all four events were confirmed by seismographs that recorded volcanic tremors, the agency said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of tremor

Verb

Sandra Ogbebor hunches over her softly humming refrigerator and scours through bottles before finally yanking out an orange juice.

— Light Oriye Tamunotonye, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Sep. 2026
In one clip, a pair of people sit in a small box attached to a wire as they're yanked onto a platform across a river in Nuwakot, Nepal.

— Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of yank

Noun

Just take his February fall collection, which mashed up decades of American glamour with a sneaky British twinge.

— Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2026
Then came the third inning, a sudden twinge of pain in Carson Whisenhunt’s left elbow and an escort to the trainer’s room.

— Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of twinge

Noun

Silence is palpable in the portraits of the men, photographs that show hardship coexisting with resilience, that quiver with pathos but do not collapse.

— Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026
Asked whether his first dates — sorry, podcast editions — should ideally end with a kiss of sorts gets Glassman to his stand-up act, where talk of dating etiquette and rules fill his comedic quiver.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026

Definition of quiver

Browse Nearby Words

twit

twitch

twitched

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“Twitch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/twitch. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of twitch

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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