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
After surgery, that device is programmed to send mild electrical impulses that block abnormal nerve signals and dramatically reduce tics.
—
Gabby Sartori,
USA Today,
3 July 2026
There are linguistic tics and habits that give away formerly Amish people immediately.
—
Eythana Miller,
The Dial,
23 June 2026
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
Some patients on chlorpromazine developed mild tremors or tics.
—
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 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
Gabby Sartori,
USA Today,
3 July 2026
There are linguistic tics and habits that give away formerly Amish people immediately.
—
Eythana Miller,
The Dial,
23 June 2026
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
Some patients on chlorpromazine developed mild tremors or tics.
—
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tics
Noun
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This month was all about the art choices—and a couple clever tricks, too.
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Consider the four tricks designers keep up their sleeves for this exact situation.
Noun
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Instead, Nowell roots the band’s sound in the mid-’90s and keeps his vocal mannerisms as close to Bradley’s as possible.
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His behavior, his voice, his accent, his physical mannerisms, everything was so particular to him, but also to New York at a certain time, and in a certain kind of crowd.
Noun
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The American Culture Quiz is a weekly test of our unique national traits, trends, history and people — including current events and the sights and sounds of the United States.
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Despite numerous myths, a cat's fur color does not impact its personality traits.
Noun
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The spindle’s mechanical quirks show just how weird materials science can get at the finest scales of life.
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Fortunately, the underlying hardware platform feels substantially more mature than the occasional software quirks suggest.
Noun
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Due to her limited knowledge of the lore, there were characteristics that guided her transformation.
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Three months later, the Supreme Court voted to allow immigration agents to stop people based on racial or ethnic characteristics while still-ongoing litigation against it proceeded.
Noun
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Nearly 1 out of every 20 Americans could have reasonably expected tens of thousands of dollars in relief and shaped their spending habits accordingly.
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That means the mix in your mouth today is not fixed, and habits move it in one direction or the other over time.
Noun
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The stylistic eccentricities have been dialed back, including the use of old Hollywood film clips to reflect the action and possibly the thoughts of its main character, a cinephile from space, who is both practicing and enacting the work of a private detective.
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Designers embraced audacious concepts, leading to iconic cars like the Corvette and Thunderbird, alongside numerous eccentricities.
Noun
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Anta Claus is spilling over with character flaws, idiosyncrasies, jealousy and frustration.
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There’s an intrinsic pleasure in seeing filmmakers grow both older and weirder, yielding to their personal idiosyncrasies and obsessions, taking wild chances in pursuit of their passions.
Cite this Entry
“Tics.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tics. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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