twister

noun

twist·​er ˈtwi-stər 

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

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued dozens of alerts on Tuesday and Wednesday as a powerful storm system spawned destructive twisters across Kentucky, Indiana, Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. —Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025

In addition to twisters, days of nearly nonstop rain are expected that could trigger life-threatening, once-in-a-lifetime flooding in the corridor where Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee meet. —Jade Walker, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025

The video shows several dusty twisters swirling across the landscape. —Amanda Kooser, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025

Seattleites braced for a dramatic spring storm — hail, lightning and even a twister or two — that never happened this week. —Christine Clarridge, Axios, 27 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing twister

• tongue twister

Rhymes for twister

• blister
• lyster
• mister
• sister
• resister
• resistor
• stepsister
• transistor

Kids Definition

twister

noun

twist·​er ˈtwis-tər 

1

: one that twists

2

a

: tornado

b

: waterspout sense 2