twit

¹ American  

[twit] / twɪt /

verb (used with object)

twitted, twitting

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 American  

[twit] / twɪt /

noun

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

---

twit ³ American  

[twit] / twɪt /

noun

Informal.

1. an insignificant, silly, or bothersome person.

   Pay no attention to that obnoxious little twit!

---

twit ⁴ American  

[twit] / twɪt /

noun

Informal.

1. a confused, excited state.

   to be in a twit about company coming.

   Synonyms:

   stew, tizzy, dither

---

twit ¹ British  

/ twɪt /

verb

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

---

noun

1. informal a nervous or excitable state

2. rare a reproach; taunt

twit ² British  

/ twɪt /

noun

1. informal a foolish or stupid person; idiot

---

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

Immediately after elevating himself to self-proclaimed chief twit, Musk shoved out chief legal officer Vijaya Gadde, the leader of all things trust and safety.

From Slate • Nov. 20, 2022

The fellow from whom Harper rents the house — she describes him as “a very particular type” and “very country” — is a toothy, upper-crusty twit played by Rory Kinnear.

From New York Times • May 19, 2022

It’s that she’s acting like a selfish twit and the show wants us to sit back and shout “Yasss, queen!” as she blows up her life.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2022

The satire of a privileged twit is dry and delicious.

From Salon • Jan. 15, 2022

Rachel/Rachelle and some other twit natter about the movie date before Mr. Stetman starts class.

From "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson