as in to distort
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition the acrobat is able to contort his body so that it almost looks like a pretzel

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb contort contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of contort are deform, distort, and warp. While all these words mean "to mar or spoil by or as if by twisting," distort and contort both imply a wrenching from the natural or normal, but contort suggests a more involved twisting and a more grotesque and painful result.

the odd camera angle distorts the figure
disease had contorted her body

When could deform be used to replace contort?

While in some cases nearly identical to contort, deform may imply a change of shape through stress, injury, or accident of growth.

a face deformed by hatred

Where would warp be a reasonable alternative to contort?

The words warp and contort are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, warp indicates an uneven shrinking that bends or twists out of a flat plane.

warped floorboards

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 contort The future Hall of Famer somehow contorted in Matrix-like fashion to avoid getting hit – and caught the ball to end the fifth inning (and his night). Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 3 Sep. 2025 The media environment, across genres, has been contorting rapidly for over a decade, as creators of myriad forms of content compete for shrinking attention spans in an increasingly crowded market. Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025 Stewart contorts his face with a look of disbelief when asked if Montgomery has stayed on him. Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025 Most murder is informed by broader systemic injustices and true crime media often fails to contextualize its horrors, leading to narratives that contort perpetrators into monsters rather than products of our flawed social systems. Kayti Burt, Time, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for contort
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contort
Verb
  • His team accused Whatley of distorting the facts to cover for his support of federal policies that reduced funding for local police.
    Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Beyond 100 people, culture often fragments, communication distorts and the founder’s vision weakens.
    Jonathan Low, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The unmistakable signature of chilli thrips are blooms that look deformed, scorched, singed and burnt.
    Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
  • As a result, his vocals have a kind of stately yet starry-eyed quality, giving structure to these deformed, cosmic beats from the internet abyss.
    Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 3 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contort. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on contort

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!