as in to distort
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition the acrobat is able to contort his body so that it almost looks like a pretzel

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb contort contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of contort are deform, distort, and warp. While all these words mean "to mar or spoil by or as if by twisting," 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

When could deform be used to replace contort?

While in some cases nearly identical to contort, deform may imply a change of shape through stress, injury, or accident of growth.

a face deformed by hatred

Where would warp be a reasonable alternative to contort?

The words warp and contort are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, warp indicates an uneven shrinking that bends or twists out of a flat plane.

warped floorboards

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of contort The shoulder cut-out is designed for side sleepers, so there’s no pillow-bunching or spine-contorting in the process of getting comfortable. Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2025 The precursor to his game-sealing catch Sunday night in New Jersey became appropriately lost in a pretty compelling tale, but his final three steps before a body-contorting catch are all backpedals, spinning nearly 180 degrees to make the grab. Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2025 That usually means contorting my limbs into weird, uncomfortable positions while trying to watch a movie on my phone. Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 21 Sep. 2025 Eighty-eight precent of college students self-censor or contort their views to succeed on campus, and exhibit the lowest level of patriotism out of all generations. Alex Rosado, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for contort
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contort
Verb
  • As business leaders and economists begin to take concerns of an AI bubble more seriously, the proliferation of loose internet bots has become more alarming because of their potential to distort data key to assessing the sustainability and growth of emerging tech companies.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The macula, part of the retina needed for sharp vision, may become distorted, causing blurry sight.
    Liz Szabo, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • We’d been deformed, like everybody else, by the same internet, the same social collapse.
    Sam Lipsyte, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Smaller implants are also lighter, more comfortable, and less apt to stretch, strain, and deform the tissues over time.
    Jolene Edgar, Allure, 15 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Contort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contort. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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