plural screws
1
a
: a simple machine of the inclined plane type consisting of a spirally grooved solid cylinder and a correspondingly grooved hollow cylinder into which it fits
b
: a nail-shaped or rod-shaped piece with a spiral groove and a slotted or recessed head designed to be inserted into material by rotating (as with a screwdriver) and used for fastening pieces of solid material together
2
a
: a form that resembles a screw : spiral
b
: a turn of a screw
also
: a twist like the turn of a screw
c
: a device (such as a corkscrew) that resembles a screw
3
: a worn-out horse
4
chiefly British
: a small packet (as of tobacco)
5
: a prison guard
6
: a person who bargains shrewdly
also
: skinflint
7
: a propeller especially of a ship
8
b
: pressure or punitive measures intended to coerce
—used chiefly in the phrase put the screws on or put the screws to
9
a
vulgar
: an act of sexual intercourse
b
vulgar
: a partner in sexual intercourse
screwed; screwing; screws
1
a(1)
: to attach, fasten, or close by means of a screw
(2)
: to unite or separate by means of a screw or a twisting motion
(3)
: to press tightly in a device (such as a vise) operated by a screw
(4)
: to operate, tighten, or adjust by means of a screw
(5)
: to torture by means of a thumbscrew
b
: to cause to rotate spirally about an axis
2
3
: to increase the intensity, quantity, or capability of
If one can screw up the courage to ask, word-of-mouth recommendations are very good.—
Gregory Simon, quoted in Consumer Reports
Gregory Simon, quoted in Consumer Reports4
a(1)
: to mistreat or exploit through extortion, trickery, or unfair actions
especially
: to deprive of or cheat out of something due or expected
(2)
: to treat so as to bring about injury or loss (as to a person's reputation)
… use the available federal machinery to screw our political enemies.—J. W. Dean III
—often used as a generalized curseJ. W. Dean IIIscrew you!
b
: to extract by pressure or threat
5
vulgar
: to copulate with
1
: to rotate like or as a screw
2
: to turn or move with a twisting or writhing motion
3
vulgar
: copulate
screwer
noun
Phrases
have a screw loose
also have a loose screw
informal
: to be mentally unsound
He'll drive you crazy if you're not careful. He's got a screw loose and you know it.—Jayne Anne Phillips
Jayne Anne PhillipsExamples of screw in a Sentence
Verb
I screwed the boards together.
The cupboards are screwed to the wall.
Screw the cap on tight.
Screw the light bulb into the fixture.
The lid screws onto the jar.
The light bulb screws right in.
Recent Examples on the Web
Naomi Rougeau, Robb Report, 9 Nov. 2025
Leatherman Rev Pocket-size Multi-Tool Small but mighty, this multitool fixes everything from loose screws to stuck zippers.
—Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2025
Personal coffee beverages were sitting on the prep tables, and a water bottle with an unapproved screw top lid was stored on the wire storage rack.
—Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
The new design—which features gold screw-cap lids to seal in freshness and refined burgundy-and-gold labels—will begin rolling out nationwide between now and January 2026.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
There, a group of KPMG staffers followed and sometimes interjected their own thoughts on the building, while workers fastened the last screws on light bulbs and organized plants strewn around the office.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
Orangutans sometimes spend weeks finding the necessary materials (wires, bolts, screws), hiding their elaborate preparations from their keepers, and awaiting the perfect moment to execute their plans.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
In the years that followed, whenever a big-time screw-up happened, someone would swoop in and attribute it to groupthink.
—David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
The Air Force's largest military cargo aircraft was used to lift an amphibious screw tractor to the site to help with ice removal.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
No matter what Robert does, he’s totally screwed.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
This is an innocent guy who’s getting completely screwed, to use some legal vernacular, in terms of his career.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Whatever the cause, Denton plays Guy as a mid-tier Vampire Diaries protagonist, never evincing a range beyond just sort of screwing his face up a bit when he’s supposed to be upset.
—Lily Osler, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2025
The Broncos got screwed on an interference call that placed the ball on the 1-yard line.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
And while the screw-on cap is comprised of BPA-free, durable, and food-safe polypropylene, Brandon recommends always hand-washing the tops and not leaving them out in the sun, as UV light can break down even the best plastics.
—Clay Abney, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2025
Simply unscrew the base and fill with water, then heap the coffee into the filter basket and screw on the top.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 10 Oct. 2025
This screwed a lot of people over.
—Hadley Hitson, Nashville Tennessean, 10 Oct. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Handmade in Japan, Akoni styles often feature titanium, plus proprietary hinges, screws, side shields, and adjustable temples that echo the intricate inner workings of timepieces.
—Naomi Rougeau, Robb Report, 9 Nov. 2025
Leatherman Rev Pocket-size Multi-Tool Small but mighty, this multitool fixes everything from loose screws to stuck zippers.
—Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2025
Personal coffee beverages were sitting on the prep tables, and a water bottle with an unapproved screw top lid was stored on the wire storage rack.
—Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
The new design—which features gold screw-cap lids to seal in freshness and refined burgundy-and-gold labels—will begin rolling out nationwide between now and January 2026.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
There, a group of KPMG staffers followed and sometimes interjected their own thoughts on the building, while workers fastened the last screws on light bulbs and organized plants strewn around the office.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
Orangutans sometimes spend weeks finding the necessary materials (wires, bolts, screws), hiding their elaborate preparations from their keepers, and awaiting the perfect moment to execute their plans.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
In the years that followed, whenever a big-time screw-up happened, someone would swoop in and attribute it to groupthink.
—David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
The Air Force's largest military cargo aircraft was used to lift an amphibious screw tractor to the site to help with ice removal.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
And, as usual, the people with the fewest resources will get screwed.
—Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
No matter what Robert does, he’s totally screwed.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
This is an innocent guy who’s getting completely screwed, to use some legal vernacular, in terms of his career.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Whatever the cause, Denton plays Guy as a mid-tier Vampire Diaries protagonist, never evincing a range beyond just sort of screwing his face up a bit when he’s supposed to be upset.
—Lily Osler, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2025
The Broncos got screwed on an interference call that placed the ball on the 1-yard line.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
And while the screw-on cap is comprised of BPA-free, durable, and food-safe polypropylene, Brandon recommends always hand-washing the tops and not leaving them out in the sun, as UV light can break down even the best plastics.
—Clay Abney, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2025
Simply unscrew the base and fill with water, then heap the coffee into the filter basket and screw on the top.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 10 Oct. 2025
This screwed a lot of people over.
—Hadley Hitson, Nashville Tennessean, 10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Screw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screw. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
screw
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a simple machine consisting of a solid cylinder with a winding groove around it and a correspondingly grooved hollow cylinder into which it fits
b
: a nail-shaped or rod-shaped metal piece with a winding groove used for fastening solid pieces together
2
3
screw
2 of 2 verb1
a
: to attach, fasten, or close with a screw
b
: to operate, tighten, or adjust with a screw
c
: to turn or twist on a screwlike thread
2
: to twist out of shape
a face screwed up in pain
3
: to increase in amount
trying to screw up enough nerve to ask
screwer
noun
Medical Definition
screw
noun
: a threaded device used in bone surgery for fixation of parts (as fragments of fractured bones)
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