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
Martinů was something of a chameleon, despite his telltale tics.
—
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
The verbal tics, unless handled, can have a devastating psychological effect.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
His verbal tics, over-the-top gestures, and knack for creating indelible moments are endearing to the public in a way that professional Democrats who devote their work lives to covering and fighting him could never understand.
—Isaac Schorr, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
It’s grown in stature for me, thanks to all of the tiny sonic tics and lyrical details that are revealed upon multiple listens.
—Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
The verbal tics, unless handled, can have a devastating psychological effect.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
His verbal tics, over-the-top gestures, and knack for creating indelible moments are endearing to the public in a way that professional Democrats who devote their work lives to covering and fighting him could never understand.
—Isaac Schorr, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
It’s grown in stature for me, thanks to all of the tiny sonic tics and lyrical details that are revealed upon multiple listens.
—Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tics
Noun
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Dillon took a beat to think about what works for him before sharing his tips and tricks to remaining youthful.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
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Weaver shares his go-to honey tips, tricks and cocktail recipes.—
Brittany Anas,
Denver Post,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Elvis star Austin Butler took forever to lose Presley’s vocal patter and mannerisms.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
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Aside from the physical talent and mannerisms, his toughness, energy and command of how to play the position are reasons to be optimistic about his projection.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Indeed, biologists know far more about how DNA turns into biochemistry and adult traits than engineers understand about how the numbers inside an AI yield cogent conversation and useful behavior.—
Nate Soares,
The Atlantic,
15 Sep. 2025
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For much of the match, Woltemade displayed his unconventional traits.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Quirk With Meaning Parsons School of Design Even the quirks carried weight.—
Jeetendr Sehdev,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Zavacephale’s cranium had a few noteworthy quirks, however.—
Jack Tamisiea,
Scientific American,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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These characteristics make the merger an almost exact replica of that first, groundbreaking detection from 10 years ago, according to Isi.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
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These characteristics resemble those of unshrouded quasars previously detected at Cosmic Dawn.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Without coaching and governance, teams fall back on old habits or work around the system altogether.—
Tyler Christiansen,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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In many ways, the platform has become a valuable resource for users to get culinary inspiration, receive expert advice and improve their eating habits.—
Mariette Williams,
USA Today,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In This is Spinal Tap fashion, DiBergi captures the band’s eccentricities and penchant for attracting bad luck at every turn.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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One of those eccentricities was James’s obsessive fixation on witches.—
Emily Zarevich,
JSTOR Daily,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Conybeare, a classics scholar, intertwines learned exegesis with examples of Augustine’s human idiosyncrasies, offering illuminating analyses of the philosopher’s seminal texts and ideas—including his theory of original sin—and of the role that his heritage played in his self-conception.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
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Told over the course of three celebratory gatherings, the film casts a wry look at Dominican identity, middle-class idiosyncrasies and the fragile threads that bind a family together.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tics.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tics. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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