tic

A sudden movement or sound that someone makes repeatedly and finds difficult to control.

• He has a facial tic.
• Her tic becomes more noticeable when she is tired.
• Some tics involve sounds rather than movements.

Common phrases: facial tic, nervous tic, vocal tic

A small action or feature that someone regularly repeats, especially in speech or writing.

• That phrase is his verbal tic.
• The author's stylistic tics appear in every novel.
• Ending each answer with a question became an annoying tic.

Similar words: mannerism, habit

Common phrases: verbal tic, stylistic tic, linguistic tic

To make a sudden, repeated movement that is difficult to control.

• He began to tic.
• She tics more often when she is tired.
• His face ticced several times during the interview.

Common phrases: tic repeatedly, tic more often