1
: local and habitual spasmodic motion of particular muscles especially of the face : twitching
2
: a frequent usually unconscious quirk of behavior or speech
"you know" is a verbal tic
Examples of tic in a Sentence
The verbal tic “you know” often occurs in her speech.
constantly playing with her hair is one of her more annoying tics
Recent Examples on the Web
But often the metaphors seem something of a tic, and a tiresome one.
—
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Additionally, his son, then 5, exhibited motor and verbal tics, and was diagnosed with asthma, after living in the apartment.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, The Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2025
For leaders aiming to inspire trust and clarity, neuroscience offers practical insights into why these verbal tics matter and how to reduce them.
—Scott Hutcheson, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Older internet vernacular involved quoting memes or making references to nerd culture, but brain rot offers strange sentence constructions and rhetorical tics with a broad range of possible applications.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tic
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Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Additionally, his son, then 5, exhibited motor and verbal tics, and was diagnosed with asthma, after living in the apartment.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, The Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2025
For leaders aiming to inspire trust and clarity, neuroscience offers practical insights into why these verbal tics matter and how to reduce them.
—Scott Hutcheson, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Older internet vernacular involved quoting memes or making references to nerd culture, but brain rot offers strange sentence constructions and rhetorical tics with a broad range of possible applications.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tic
Cite this Entry
“Tic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tic. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tic
noun1
: a regularly repeated twitching movement of a particular muscle and especially one of the face
2
: a particular form of behavior or speech that is often repeated
"you know" is a verbal tic
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