1
as in twitching
to grasp and move with a small forceful motion
Hey, you tweaked my nose!
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2
as in adjusting
to make small adjustments to
You can tweak the settings to customize the display. He spent considerable time tweaking the recipe.
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3
as in mocking
to make (someone or something) the object of criticism, amusement, or laughter
They're always tweaking me about my northern accent.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tweaking
The software simulates wind passing over the avatar, computational fluid dynamics calculate how much resistance there is — and how tweaking a skater’s form alters that.
—
Howard Fendrich, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
Mayhem executive producer Andrew Watt handled guitar, co-producer Cirkut played synth, Josh Freese drummed, and Gaga commanded two keyboards, actively tweaking sounds on a modular synthesizer.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2026
This requires more than merely tweaking tax rates around the edges.
—Lou Rinaldi, Hartford Courant, 26 Jan. 2026
But over the next 75 years, people kept tweaking the cocktail, hanging ornaments on it.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 24 Jan. 2026
The amp also has bass and treble controls with an EQ bypass mode for tweaking the sound or preserving the original signal path.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
For example, rather than tweaking today’s slow and clunky payment journey, payers could reimagine the whole system and move toward real-time intelligent settlement at the point of care.
—Shubham Singhal, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
Peterson did not have to leave the game because of cramping and in fact continued to play despite tweaking an ankle in the second half.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 21 Jan. 2026
The restaurant, which opened in 2021 as Nara Ramen & Izakaya before tweaking its menu, is permanently out of business.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 20 Jan. 2026
Howard Fendrich, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
Mayhem executive producer Andrew Watt handled guitar, co-producer Cirkut played synth, Josh Freese drummed, and Gaga commanded two keyboards, actively tweaking sounds on a modular synthesizer.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2026
This requires more than merely tweaking tax rates around the edges.
—Lou Rinaldi, Hartford Courant, 26 Jan. 2026
But over the next 75 years, people kept tweaking the cocktail, hanging ornaments on it.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 24 Jan. 2026
The amp also has bass and treble controls with an EQ bypass mode for tweaking the sound or preserving the original signal path.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
For example, rather than tweaking today’s slow and clunky payment journey, payers could reimagine the whole system and move toward real-time intelligent settlement at the point of care.
—Shubham Singhal, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
Peterson did not have to leave the game because of cramping and in fact continued to play despite tweaking an ankle in the second half.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 21 Jan. 2026
The restaurant, which opened in 2021 as Nara Ramen & Izakaya before tweaking its menu, is permanently out of business.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tweaking
Verb
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But the Missouri was always a wild river twitching its bed from side to side across its flood plain.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
1 Feb. 2026
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Harnessing the camp of countless Drag Race acting challenges that came before her, Jujubee films a close-up reaction to a group of rowdy passengers reprimanding her, escalating the moment until her face is full-on twitching before a physical confrontation.—
Jillian Sederholm,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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By adjusting for variables such as smoking, physical activity and underlying health conditions, the researchers were able to isolate the specific relationship between caffeine intake and long-term brain health, SWNS noted.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
How to Stop Them Prevent grubs from taking over your yard this spring by adjusting your watering schedule.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Late-night hosts, including Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Seth Meyers, have been mocking the documentary.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
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Link was captured on Ring camera footage mocking and belittling Jimenez after shooting him, prosecutors say.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The son of an emotionally remote father and penny-pinching mom, Smith was born the eldest of two boys in Tacoma.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Starting from long side without border, roll dough into a tight log, pinching seam to seal.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Her spell as a journalist included editing BBC News at Six and senior roles on Newsnight and Panorama.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
5 Feb. 2026
-
All items are subject to editing for clarity and length.—
Samantha Gowen,
Oc Register,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
OpenAI has been teasing the introduction of ads for weeks.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Dunkin' has been teasing the Big Game ad for some time.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Figure skater Amber Glenn skated off the ice, shaking her head after an early landing bobble during today's competition.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
8 Feb. 2026
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Both physical strength and constant mental attention are required for this sport in order to control heart rate and shaking in the muscles.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One confidant reportedly told a source that Bass was not truthful in her public statements about her lack of involvement and warned her that modifying the report could harm her politically.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Feb. 2026
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By targeting the underlying neuronal degeneration, ER-100 is positioned as a potential disease-modifying treatment rather than a symptomatic fix.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tweaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tweaking. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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