twister

noun

twist·​er ˈtwi-stər How to pronounce twister (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And, just as with the first twister, a small nub started dropping and circulating from the wall cloud, but was shaped more like a stout stovepipe. Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025 The biker gang circles the house like an encroaching twister, and to make matters worse, Ray’s shoulder never healed properly, and the infection has reached his bloodstream. Andy Andersen, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025 The rotating air drags up dust into its twister, redistributing it around the planet. Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2025 The line of strong-to-severe thunderstorms has already produced at least 19 reports of tornadoes, including one twister that injured four people and damaged multiple structures in Kentucky, and another that caused a warehouse to partially collapse in Indiana. Jade Walker, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for twister

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of twister was in 1579

Cite this Entry

“Twister.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twister. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

twister

noun
twist·​er ˈtwis-tər How to pronounce twister (audio)
1
: one that twists
2

More from Merriam-Webster on twister

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!