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View synonyms for twit

twit

1

[ twit ]

verb (used with object)

, twit·ted, twit·ting.
  1. to taunt, tease, ridicule, etc., with reference to anything embarrassing; gibe at.

    Synonyms: deride, insult, mock

  2. to reproach or upbraid.

    Synonyms: castigate, revile, criticize, rebuke, scold, chide



noun

  1. an act of twitting.
  2. a derisive reproach; taunt; gibe.

twit

2

[ twit ]

noun

  1. a weak or thin place in yarn caused by uneven spinning.

twit

3

[ twit ]

noun

, Informal.
  1. an insignificant, silly, or bothersome person:

    Pay no attention to that obnoxious little twit!

twit

4

[ twit ]

noun

, Informal.
  1. a confused, excited state:

    to be in a twit about company coming.

    Synonyms: stew, dither, tizzy

twit

1

/ twɪt /

noun

  1. informal.
    a foolish or stupid person; idiot
“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

twit

2

/ twɪt /

verb

  1. tr to tease, taunt, or reproach, often in jest
“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

noun

  1. informal.
    a nervous or excitable state
  2. rare.
    a reproach; taunt
“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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of twit1

First recorded in 1520–30; shortened variant of obsolete atwite, Middle English atwiten, Old English ætwītan “to taunt,” equivalent to æt- “at” + wītan “to blame”; at 1

Origin of twit2

First recorded in 1810–20; origin uncertain

Origin of twit3

First recorded in 1920–25; perhaps originally noun derivative of twit 1, i.e., “one who twits others,” but altered in sense by association with expressive words with tw- ( twaddle, twat, twerp, etc.) and by rhyme with nitwit

Origin of twit4

First recorded in 1890–95; probably shortened from twitter
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Word History and Origins

Origin of twit1

C19: from twit 1(originally in the sense: a person given to twitting)

Origin of twit2

Old English ætwītan, from æt against + wītan to accuse; related to Old High German wīzan to punish
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Example Sentences

Jane Austen wrote takedowns of this kind of ninny two centuries ago — how fun to see Pike update her twit to the post-Y2K era.

It’s impossible to believe that such sounds could have issued from such twits.

“How do you like your adventure now, you arrogant little twit?” a lechuza with Inés’s voice asked Juanita as she caressed her face with the bristly feathers of her left wing.

Julian Sands is one of those blond, fair-skinned, blue-eyed English blokes who plays a twit as well or better than the next classically trained British actor.

But Musk has only proved he is a chief twit.

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