twister

noun

twist·​er ˈtwi-stər How to pronounce twister (audio)
1
: one that twists
especially : a ball with a forward and spinning motion
2
: a tornado, waterspout, or dust devil in which the rotatory ascending movement of a column of air is especially apparent

Examples of twister in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
At a half-mile wide, the F4 twister tore through the community, destroying more than 80% of it. Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 11 May 2026 Games, face painting and a balloon twister brought joy and entertainment. News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026 Five twisters ripped through three counties south of Greenville that afternoon, and a traffic light dangles close to the car. Sean Gregory, Time, 6 May 2026 One of the twisters traveled more than 36 miles across central Missouri, causing widespread damage. Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for twister

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of twister was in 1579

Cite this Entry

“Twister.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twister. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

twister

noun
twist·​er ˈtwis-tər How to pronounce twister (audio)
1
: one that twists
2

More from Merriam-Webster on twister

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster