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Synonyms

twerp

American  
[twurp] / twɜrp /
Or twirp

noun

Slang.
  1. an insignificant or despicable fellow.

    Her father thinks her boyfriend is just a twerp.


twerp British  
/ twɜːp /

noun

  1. informal a silly, weak-minded, or contemptible person

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • twerpy adjective

Etymology

Origin of twerp

First recorded in 1920–25; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On the other hand, Boy Kavalier is such an evil twerp that you want him to stay around long enough to earn the outcome he deserves, whatever that ends up being.

From Salon • Aug. 5, 2025

Aegon, now played by Tom Glynn-Carney, has graduated from silly twerp to vile lout.

From New York Times • Oct. 9, 2022

It’s the goofy Santa Claus savings bank you got from your great-aunt when you were still a twerp.

From Washington Post • Jun. 1, 2018

I met Richard Burton once and he’s a little twerp.

From The Guardian • Jun. 14, 2016

The cook must have started taking his trousers right off because now they were shouting, "It's not in there! There's no mice in there, you silly twerp!"

From "The Witches" by Roald Dahl