contorted; contorting; contorts
: to twist in a violent manner
features contorted with fury
: to twist into or as if into a strained shape or expression
His face contorted in a grimace of pain.
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.
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
In past relationships, Qualley would attempt to contort herself into someone else’s ideal partner.
—
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2025
Those using it can sit upright, sit cross-legged, lean back, sit diagonally so the hammock fabric supports their legs, and otherwise move and contort into various positions for extra comfort.
—New Atlas, 30 June 2025
Fortunately, there wasn’t any friendly fire as Warren tried to contort his body to make the catch, but Venturi doesn’t hold back on Richardson.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 30 July 2025
Grace contorts his body in all types of somersaults to check on another person on the ship, who hasn’t made it from the looks of their pale, stiff body.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for contort
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Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2025
Those using it can sit upright, sit cross-legged, lean back, sit diagonally so the hammock fabric supports their legs, and otherwise move and contort into various positions for extra comfort.
—New Atlas, 30 June 2025
Fortunately, there wasn’t any friendly fire as Warren tried to contort his body to make the catch, but Venturi doesn’t hold back on Richardson.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 30 July 2025
Grace contorts his body in all types of somersaults to check on another person on the ship, who hasn’t made it from the looks of their pale, stiff body.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for contort
Cite this Entry
“Contort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contort. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
contort
verb
con·tort
kən-ˈtȯ(ə)rt 
: to twist into an unusual appearance or unnatural shape
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