twitchily
1
7.0
- adverb
- /ˈtwɪtʃɪli/
- The dog waited twitchily by the door, eager for its owner to return.
Examples
-
During the meeting, she tapped her foot twitchily as she listened.
-
He glanced around the room twitchily, unsure of how to respond.
-
He danced twitchily.
Fiction book (2001) -
Kevin/Jean-Paul was tall, pallid, big-nosed, dark-eyed, and twitchily somber: a teasing deadpan, like Belmondo.
Fiction book (1992)
Synonyms
5
3.7
In a way that shows you cannot relax or stay still
1
5.2
With sudden, uneven movements that are not smooth
1
5.8
In a way that shows shaking from fear, cold, or weakness
1
7.8
To make small nervous movements because you feel impatient and uneasy
1
5.2
Your hands or body move because you feel afraid
1
6.8
With light quick shaking movements like a small bird flapping its wings
1
7.2
In a nervous, easily startled way with sudden jerks
1
8.2
To shake slightly because of fear, cold, or strong feeling
1
7.9
In sudden, quick movements that make things start and stop
1
8.6
In a trembling voice because of fear or strong feeling
1
7.4
In a way that shows discomfort or nervousness by moving restlessly
How Nervous
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Twitchily comes from the verb twitch, which means a quick, small pull or jerk, plus the adverb ending -ly. Think of a muscle or a nervous hand that gives a quick little pull; that's why twitchily means 'in a nervous or restless way, with small, sudden movements'.