contort

1 of 2

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

contortion

2 of 2

noun

con·​tor·​tion kən-ˈtȯr-shən 

plural -s

: the act or result of contorting or the state of being contorted : a twisting into abnormal or grotesque shape : a needlessly or unduly complicated action or posture

goes through tremendous contortions in an effort to link together her two separate plots

—James Yaffe

contortional

kən-ˈtȯr-shnəl, 

-shə-nᵊl

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 of contort

Verb

• distort
• deform

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

Verb

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

Verb

But the same dystopian phenomenon is contorting the whole labor market. —Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 2 June 2026

Search the internet and there are coaches and players spotted sniffing the ammonia inhalants before a game, with their instant reactions — a noticeable head jerk or contorted face — going viral. —Jason Jones, New York Times, 15 May 2026

For more serious cavers who are at least 16 years old, this summer-only, four-hour tour requires crawling, climbing, and contorting. —Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 14 May 2026

In these photographs, Export contorted her body in various ways, creating striking images of her body defying the expected. —Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 14 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun

French & Latin; French contorsion, from Latin contortion-, contortio, from contortus + -ion-, -io -ion

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for contort

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

Kids Definition

contort

verb

con·​tort kən-ˈtȯ(ə)rt 

: to twist into an unusual appearance or unnatural shape