twinge

[ twinj ]
See synonyms for twinge on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a sudden, sharp pain: On damp days, he's often bothered by a twinge of rheumatism.

  2. a mental or emotional pang: a twinge of guilt; twinges of sorrow.

verb (used with object),twinged, twing·ing.
  1. to affect (the body or mind) with a sudden, sharp pain or pang.

  2. to pinch; tweak; twitch.

verb (used without object),twinged, twing·ing.
  1. to have or feel a sudden, sharp pain.

Origin of twinge

1
before 1000; Middle English twengen to pinch, Old English twengan

Other words for twinge

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use twinge in a sentence

  • In the overlooking of nagging twinges, or maybe even depression.

  • Several other pieces are still in my body, and not infrequently by certain twinges I am made aware of their presence.

    Private Peat | Harold R. Peat
  • Mr. Horbury had suffered from one or two slight twinges of conscience for a few days after he had operated on his nephew.

    The Secret Glory | Arthur Machen
  • The caretaker got up stiffly, for such snell weather was apt to give him twinges in his joints.

    Greyfriars Bobby | Eleanor Atkinson
  • In that moment he felt a quick strange fear, little twinges of doubt, a suspicion that all was not well.

    The Wrong Twin | Harry Leon Wilson
  • As for Jack, his conscience gave him few twinges in regard to these surreptitious meetings.

    In Friendship's Guise | Wm. Murray Graydon

British Dictionary definitions for twinge

twinge

/ (twɪndʒ) /


noun
  1. a sudden brief darting or stabbing pain

  2. a sharp emotional pang: a twinge of guilt

verb
  1. to have or cause to have a twinge

  2. (tr) obsolete to pinch; tweak

Origin of twinge

1
Old English twengan to pinch; related to Old High German zwengen

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012