twitchy

American  

[twich-ee] / ˈtwɪtʃ i /

adjective

twitchier, twitchiest

1. twitching or tending to twitch.

2. nervous; jumpy.

   All that pressure at the office has made him twitchy.

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twitchy British  

/ ˈtwɪtʃɪ /

adjective

1. nervous, worried, and ill-at-ease

   he was twitchy with anticipation

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Other Word Forms

• twitchiness noun

Etymology

Origin of twitchy

First recorded in 1740–50; twitch + -y ¹

Explanation

Someone who's twitchy is either making quick, unintentionally jerky movements, or is visibly anxious. If you're waiting to hear if you got a part you desperately want in the school play, you may be understandably twitchy. When someone twitches, their muscles are repeatedly contracting and releasing, they are twitchy. Your body may get a little twitchy after vigorous exercise, or your eye might tend to be twitchy when you're tired. People who are agitated or jumpy are also twitchy: "This movie's too suspenseful for me — it's making me twitchy!" Twitchy is from the 12th century to-twic-chen, "to pull apart with a quick jerk," and its Old English root which means "to pluck."

Example Sentences

Soon after, twitchy soldiers defending Los Angeles unleashed a barrage of antiaircraft fire at what was later suspected to be a stray weather balloon.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Before the face-off drama, a twitchy, stone-faced Dubois glanced around at the stained-glass windows as the managers went toe-to-toe backing their men.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

"It was a bit twitchy, the car, but I think we made real progress and my pace was looking pretty decent," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

From BBC • Aug. 31, 2025

“I feel twitchy again, you know, I just feel good.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 7, 2025

Inside the classroom, I take my seat, feeling infamous and invincible and twitchy and strangely exhilarated, as if I just escaped, well, death.

From "All The Bright Places" by Jennifer Niven