Twit

/twɪt/ · verb

Meaning

To blame or reproach (someone), especially in a good-natured or teasing manner; also, to ridicule or tease (someone)..

Definitions by Sense

1. To blame or reproach (someone), especially in a good-natured or teasing manner; also, to ridicule or tease (someone).
2. To criticize or disapprove of (something), especially in a good-natured or teasing manner.
3. To ignore or kill file (a user on a bulletin board system).
4. Followed by it: to speak or write (something) in a taunting or teasing manner.
5. To blame or reproach, especially in a good-natured or teasing manner.
6. To be indiscreet; to gossip.
7. A jibe, reproach, or taunt, especially one made in a good-natured or teasing manner.
8. (informal) An annoying or foolish person.

Example Sentences

No man for deſpite, / By worde or by write / His felowe to twite, […]

[I]f vvee meane to tvvit a man that he is a foole, vve vvill ſay thou knovveſt not vvhat thou ſayeſt.

Hath he not tvvit our Soueraigne Lady here / VVith ignominious vvords, though Clarkely coucht? / As if ſhe had ſuborned ſome to ſvveare / Falſe allegations, to o'rethrovv his ſtate.

Well wanton, laugh not my ould age to ſcorne, / nor twit me ſo my ſenſes to haue loſte, / the time hath been when as my hopefull morne / promiſ'd as much as nowe thy youth can boaſte: […]

This Hannah though ſilent vvhen tvvitted by Peninnah for barrenneſs, found her tongue vvhen here taxed by Eli of drunkenneſs: becauſe a meer ſufferer in the former, but in the latter a ſinner, had the accuſation been true.

Thou twittest me with my Grey Hairs, yet considerest not how I am of the Nature of Leeks, which with a white Head carry a green, fresh, streight, and vigorous Tail.

The old Non-conformiſts being the ſame vvith the modern Presbuterians, but depreſſed and under, as the modern Presbuterians are the old Non-conformiſts, but vertical and in Authority, do (though the Animadvertor tvvitteth me conſtantly to Advocate for them) take great and general exception at me; […]

Again in the ſecond Book of the Chronicles, there Abijah King of Juda ſpeaking to Iſrael, upbraids to them their confidence in their multitude, and in their Golden Calves vvhich Jeroboam made them for Gods; tvvitting them thereby aſſuredly for their Idolatry; […]

Synonyms for twit

Antonyms for twit

Related Words

Word Forms

• twits
• twitting
• twitted
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• twit
• twittest
• twittedst
• twitteth
• -

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions