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
One oral tradition about Lake Nyos describes how people long ago attempted to cross the dry lake bed between the high, contorted rock formations of the maar’s volcanic rim.
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Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
The Warriors, led by two-time league MVP Steph Curry, bend and contort defenses in ways that most other teams aren’t equipped to.
—Khobi Price, Oc Register, 22 Oct. 2025
Rogalski contorted his body and got a foot down in bounds to secure the interception at Mahtomedi’s 42 yard line.
—Andrew Cornelius, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
Unlike traditional rigid robots, the e-MG model can contort its limbs, twist its body, and even swing across surfaces.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contort
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Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
The Warriors, led by two-time league MVP Steph Curry, bend and contort defenses in ways that most other teams aren’t equipped to.
—Khobi Price, Oc Register, 22 Oct. 2025
Rogalski contorted his body and got a foot down in bounds to secure the interception at Mahtomedi’s 42 yard line.
—Andrew Cornelius, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
Unlike traditional rigid robots, the e-MG model can contort its limbs, twist its body, and even swing across surfaces.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 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 31 Oct. 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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