SKIP TO CONTENT

twirp

/twərp/
IPA guide

A twirp is a ridiculous, annoying person. You couldn't be blamed for calling your obnoxious younger brother a twirp.

The more common spelling is twerp, but either way a twirp is silly and drives you crazy. It's not nice to call someone a twirp, so you should save it for emergencies: "You twirp! Why'd you put my phone in the dishwasher?" One theory of twirp's origin says it came from the name T.W. Earp, a controversial student union president at Oxford in 1911, while other experts believe the word didn't appear until the 1920s.

Definitions of twirp
  1. noun
    someone who is regarded as contemptible
    synonyms: twerp
    see moresee less
    type of:
    simple, simpleton
    a person lacking intelligence or common sense
  2. verb
    make a weak, chirping sound
    synonyms: tweet
    see moresee less
    type of:
    go, sound
    make a certain noise or sound
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘twirp'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family