twitchy

adjective

ˈtwi-chē 

twitchier; twitchiest

1

: marked by twitches or jerking movements : tending to twitch

Oliver did not think he would be able to sleep, but he did sleep—a restless, twitchy sleep filled with hideous dreams.

—Eva Ibbotson

Round-shouldered yet angular, he walked in a twitchy manner that recalled a spider, his oily hair swinging about his face.

—J. K. Rowling

2

: nervously on edge or fretful

This revelation was an incredible relief to those of us who get a little twitchy at the thought of making pasta …

—Jane Daniels Lear

There was action every minute, and so much momentum carrying the story forward that until I finished it, I was in a sort of twitchy agony if I got stuck doing anything else.

—Eric Konigsberg

Synonyms

• antsy
• fidgety
• squirmy
• wiggly
• wriggly

Examples of twitchy in a Sentence

examining the twitchy little poodle was a challenge for the vet

Recent Examples on the Web

Floating Points: Cascade [Ninja Tune] Sam Shepherd’s first solo Floating Points album since 2019 reasserts the British producer and jazz composer at the helm of the dancefloor, splaying ornate melodies over twitchy rhythms as likely to induce stupefied wonder as full-body spasms. —Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 13 Sep. 2024

The Rams could form a scary defensive line with the twitchy, explosive Robinson. 20. —C.j. Doon, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2024

The twitchy intensity with which Anthony sneaks glances at the slightly older Steph indicates his complete lack of game around girls and marks the beginning of a first love destined for the most part to remain agonizingly out of reach. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Those names include Cate Blanchett (whose shockingly stiff red wig is the most interesting thing about her here), Kevin Hart (miscast as a stoic soldier), a twitchy Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jack Black, the one cast member whose inclusion makes sense. —Allegra Frank, TIME, 9 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1