FIDGETED Synonyms: 29 Similar and Opposite Words

fidgeted

verb

past tense of fidget

as in twitched

to make jerky or restless movements small children are likely to fidget in church

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of fidgeted One woman ordered some home furniture while two children fidgeted nearby. — David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026 Between each dance was an excruciating silence during which network-TV producers monitored and reset their equipment while the men fidgeted onstage like excitable children. — Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026 Children fidgeted in the relentless August heat. — Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fidgeted

Verb

Just then, Chee Meng’s fishing rod twitched, and the line began to run out.

— Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
During the test, Linton jerked and twitched in what prosecutors described as an attempt to fake a seizure.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of twitched

Verb

During the test, Linton jerked and twitched in what prosecutors described as an attempt to fake a seizure.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Somewhere nearby, in a dark office, an eavesdropping oreja has just jerked to attention on his hard little chair.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of jerked

Verb

The few immigrants who did vote improperly had their ballots tossed but otherwise faced no legal problems.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
The Panthers are coming off a 59-0 victory over Nevada Community; Heritage sophomore quarterback Lane Vargas tossed eight TD passes.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of tossed

Verb

Her thumbs fiddled, and her eyebrows rose as Castillo excoriated government spending on undocumented immigrants.

— Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
But what does some scientist know about eating fruit, of all things, when your hamstring feels like it’s being fiddled by Satan?

— Dan England, Outside, 5 Feb. 2026

Definition of fiddled

Verb

As a woman waded through the waters around the Bridge Side Marina in Bridge Isle, Louisiana, the tiny canine with a fluffy white coat wiggled his forelegs as if swimming, video of the cute moment shows.

— Erika Angulo, NBC news, 11 Oct. 2026
Imanaga wiggled out of a one-out double in the first, then was supported by Pete Crow-Armstrong’s eighth leadoff home run of the season and the second in as many games.

— Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of wiggled

Browse Nearby Words

fidget

fidgeted

fidgetiness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Fidgeted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fidgeted. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of fidgeted

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

milieu

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes