as in distorting
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
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Recent Examples of contorting
But film and television stars lately have been contorting themselves to say less.
—
Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Feb. 2026
Because you’re done contorting, shrinking, softening, and waiting for permission.
—Samyra, SELF, 14 Jan. 2026
The Thunder, contorting around the Frenchman’s wingspan, shot better than 68 percent inside the paint on just one fewer attempt than San Antonio.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Then, while Williams was stoic, Storrie feigned nervousness about presenting, contorting himself into knots.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
This is the city of Antoni Gaudi, the architect whose distinct buildings define Barcelona, contorting possibility.
—Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 1 Dec. 2025
Outside that moment, everyone resumed contorting themselves to serve the Establishment in one way or another to survive.
—Eddie Huang, Curbed, 9 Oct. 2025
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
Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Feb. 2026
Because you’re done contorting, shrinking, softening, and waiting for permission.
—Samyra, SELF, 14 Jan. 2026
The Thunder, contorting around the Frenchman’s wingspan, shot better than 68 percent inside the paint on just one fewer attempt than San Antonio.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Then, while Williams was stoic, Storrie feigned nervousness about presenting, contorting himself into knots.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
This is the city of Antoni Gaudi, the architect whose distinct buildings define Barcelona, contorting possibility.
—Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 1 Dec. 2025
Outside that moment, everyone resumed contorting themselves to serve the Establishment in one way or another to survive.
—Eddie Huang, Curbed, 9 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contorting
Verb
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These pressures are distorting the market.—
Vijay Dandapani,
New York Daily News,
27 Feb. 2026
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The comments reflect longstanding German concerns about what Berlin sees as an undervalued yuan, market-distorting subsidies and overcapacity among Chinese exporters that have built massive trade surpluses with Europe’s largest economy, amounting to 90 billion euros ($106 billion) last year.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Like stirring honey instead of water, deforming a thicker, more viscous interior requires more energy.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Draughan was arraigned Thursday on two counts of second-degree killing/torturing animals, one count of felony firearms, one count of cruelty to an animal resulting in the animal's death, and one count of abandoning animals.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
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Ida, meanwhile, is a crime society floozy in 1930s Great Depression Chicago, an escort to a coterie of goombahs who take to mentally torturing her over dinner and drinks in a speakeasy.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Nevertheless, on a clear if cold day the three walked through several inches of snow, screwing in the new signs.—
Jesse Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
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Cattano suggests screwing mug hooks into the bottom of kitchen cabinets to utilize that space between the cupboards and the countertops.—
Bridget Reed Morawski,
Architectural Digest,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While an armadillo may think flipping onto its back and curling into a ball protects it from predators, the move actually leaves it more vulnerable, said Tori Larned, a spokeswoman for Builders Movement.—
Aarón Torres,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Mar. 2026
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There may not even be curling going on and there’ll be 20 people there just hanging out.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contorting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contorting. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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