contort

con·tort

verb \kən-ˈtȯrt\

Definition of CONTORT

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

— con·tor·tion \-ˈtȯr-shən\ noun

— con·tor·tive \-ˈtȯr-tiv\ adjective

Examples of CONTORT

1. His body contorted with pain.
2. The boy contorted his body to squeeze through the gate.
3. Her face was contorted with rage.

Origin of CONTORT

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

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to CONTORT

Synonyms

deform, distort, misshape, screw, squinch, torture, warp

Related Words

deface, disfigure; wrench, wrest, wring; coil, curl, loop, spiral, twine, wind, wreathe

Near Antonyms

straighten, unbend, uncurl

See Synonym Discussion at deform

Rhymes with CONTORT

abort, airport, amort, aport, assort, athwart, backcourt, bellwort, birthwort, bistort, blood sport, Bridgeport, carport, cavort, cohort, colewort, comport, consort, crosscourt, deport, disport, distort, downcourt, effort, escort, exhort, export, extort, fall short, figwort, forecourt, for short, free port, frontcourt, glasswort, Gosport, Gulfport, half-court, homeport, home port, in short, jetport, lousewort, lungwort, madwort, milkwort, mugwort, Newport, outport, passport, presort, purport, ragwort, report, re-sort, resort, retort, sandwort, seaport, sell short, Shreveport, spaceport, spearwort, spoilsport, Stockport, support, toothwort, transport