contort

verb

con·​tort kən-ˈtȯrt 

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

kən-ˈtȯr-shən 

noun

contortive

kən-ˈtȯr-tiv 

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.

Synonyms

• deform
• distort
• misshape
• screw
• squinch
• torture
• warp

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

With this, our bodies are being contorted in very strange ways. —Mike Miller Published, EW.com, 8 May 2025

At one point its images of a man hitting the nitrous button in his muscle car contorts as though his whole body is being pushed through a syringe. —Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025

The term hair-raising takes on new meaning as two performers contort their bodies high above the stage, connected only by their coiffures. —Karen D'souza, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025

In a sport where athletes contort themselves into intricate positions, Hurd understands what her teammates want to see. —Caroline Price, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for contort

• abort
• airport
• alport
• athwart
• carport
• comport
• consort
• deport
• distort
• escort
• exhort
• extort

Kids Definition

contort

verb

con·​tort kən-ˈtȯ(ə)rt 

: to twist into an unusual appearance or unnatural shape