Twitchy

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈtwɪt͡ʃi/

Definitions

1. Marked by a heightened state of anxiety or agitation
2. Exhibiting sporadic, involuntary muscle contractions or movements
3. Feeling uneasy or restless, often with a quick, jerky motion of muscles or body parts ; prone to brief, involuntary muscle twitches or spasms

Etymology: "Twitchy" is simply "twitch" with the adjective-forming suffix "-y" added to it. The "-y" ending, which English inherited from Old English "-ig", is one of the most productive ways of turning a noun or verb into a description of a quality, as in "messy," "sandy," or "bumpy." Here it turns the sharp, sudden jerk of a twitch into a description of someone or something that is prone to such movements. The meaning "jittery with nerves" follows naturally from that sense of quick, involuntary jerking. A person who is twitchy is one whose body seems to fidget or jump, which is why the word is so often applied to someone on edge, waiting anxiously for something to happen.

Synonyms: nervous, jittery, anxious, restless, edgy

Antonyms: calm, relaxed, steady, composed, tranquil