contort

verb

con·​tort kən-ˈtȯrt How to pronounce contort (audio)
contorted; contorting; contorts

transitive verb

: to twist in a violent manner
features contorted with fury

intransitive verb

: to twist into or as if into a strained shape or expression
His face contorted in a grimace of pain.
contortion noun
contortive adjective

Did you know?

Circus contortionists are known for twisting their bodies into pretzels; such contortions tend to be easier for females than for males, and much easier for the young than for the old. When trying to say something uncomfortable or dishonest, people often go through verbal contortions. But when someone else "twists" something you said or did, we usually say instead that they've distorted it.

Choose the Right Synonym for contort

deform, distort, contort, warp means to mar or spoil by or as if by twisting.

deform may imply a change of shape through stress, injury, or accident of growth.

a face deformed by hatred

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

warp indicates an uneven shrinking that bends or twists out of a flat plane.

warped floorboards

Examples of contort in a Sentence

His body contorted with pain. The boy contorted his body to squeeze through the gate. Her face was contorted with rage.
Recent Examples on the Web The next room, a 5,000-square-foot space with 40-foot ceilings, uses 26 projectors to display shifting, contorting images from Nachum’s artwork: a giant bird flapping its wings, a cascade of flower petals, a person wearing a crown with Braille on it. Christopher Kuo, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 However, women in our community participate in the phenomenon, often contorting their bodies to achieve a specific archetype of curviness and acceptance. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 6 Mar. 2024 But Fox News has a poor relationship with the truth, often flooding the discourse with disinformation and conspiracy theories that contort to their audience’s conservative worldview. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024 Her jaw-dropping versatility on the runway was matched only by her ability to contort and contour her body into the most incredible shapes in the most epic sync in Drag Race history against Brooke Lynn Hytes. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 5 Dec. 2023 The brand’s men’s division is shifting and contorting–and this presentation is proof of that even with two shows down. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 1 Dec. 2023 Like in a baroque painting, each was frozen in an expression of ecclesiastical grief, faces contorted, while the receiver to the red line lay in Hendrickson’s limp, upturned palm. Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 5 Feb. 2024 After this rapid fluctuation in her own fortunes, Nala’s sweet face suddenly contorts into an almost paranormal seriousness. Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 2 Feb. 2024 As the plot becomes more contorted, its dangerous party game challenging the audience right alongside the characters to keep track of who’s who, the stylistic flourishes start to become intrusive. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contort.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin contortus, past participle of contorquēre, from com- + torquēre to twist — more at torture entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of contort was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near contort

Cite this Entry

“Contort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contort. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

contort

verb
con·​tort kən-ˈtȯ(ə)rt How to pronounce contort (audio)
: to twist into an unusual appearance or unnatural shape

More from Merriam-Webster on contort

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