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 the same dystopian phenomenon is contorting the whole labor market.
—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
2 June 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
Despite the complex, stream-of-consciousness lyrics, hundreds of mouths could be seen contorting word-for-word with Springsteen’s, giving the show an intimate, local bar atmosphere.
—
Orlando Sentinel Staff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
Despite some obvious physical scarring and a seeming predilection for contorting her body in creepy ways, Katie seems pretty healthy, or so the Egyptian doctors tell her parents.
—
Gregory Nussen,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Subtlety never stood a chance, with Cardi leaning fully into the chaos all night — chopping the air with her arms, sticking out her tongue, whipping her head, contorting her body, dropping into splits and backbends without warning.
—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Apr. 2026
But first and foremost, Bad Omens are gifted musicians, and whatever eldritch magic Sebastian wields onstage will always be bolstered by a serious band contorting metal, dark pop and electronic music.
—
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
In the first round of the 1993 tournament, against LSU Kidd’s drive through the lane and body-contorting, banker high off the backboard with one second left gave Cal a 66-64 win.
—
Brad Townsend,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Mar. 2026
But film and television stars lately have been contorting themselves to say less.
—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Feb. 2026
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
2 June 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
Despite the complex, stream-of-consciousness lyrics, hundreds of mouths could be seen contorting word-for-word with Springsteen’s, giving the show an intimate, local bar atmosphere.
—
Orlando Sentinel Staff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
Despite some obvious physical scarring and a seeming predilection for contorting her body in creepy ways, Katie seems pretty healthy, or so the Egyptian doctors tell her parents.
—
Gregory Nussen,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Subtlety never stood a chance, with Cardi leaning fully into the chaos all night — chopping the air with her arms, sticking out her tongue, whipping her head, contorting her body, dropping into splits and backbends without warning.
—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Apr. 2026
But first and foremost, Bad Omens are gifted musicians, and whatever eldritch magic Sebastian wields onstage will always be bolstered by a serious band contorting metal, dark pop and electronic music.
—
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
In the first round of the 1993 tournament, against LSU Kidd’s drive through the lane and body-contorting, banker high off the backboard with one second left gave Cal a 66-64 win.
—
Brad Townsend,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Mar. 2026
But film and television stars lately have been contorting themselves to say less.
—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contorting
Verb
-
Last summer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused China of distorting trade and limiting access for European firms.
-
The stainless-steel finish is extremely durable and will last for years without bending or distorting.
Verb
-
When oil wells are shut in, the pressure underground can become imbalanced, deforming the underlying structure.
-
Their atoms are held together by strong chemical bonds and arranged in a stable crystal structure that resists deforming, even at extreme temperatures.
Verb
-
Henry Bernard Montgomery, 38, was arraigned Monday afternoon on one count of third-degree killing/torturing animals and given a $20,000 bond with a GPS tether.
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In fact, the disease has been torturing humans for at least 5,500 years, according to a study published today in the journal Nature .
Verb
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America’s favorite sport is not football, or soccer, but screwing over sports fans, which is why FIFA should hold its World Cup in the United States permanently.
-
At least Mercedes is reverting back to screwing things together rather than gluing things in a back-to-basics manufacturing push.
Verb
-
Or curling your wrists while doing biceps curls.
-
Romano Schmid’s curling effort from the edge of the area gave Austria the lead but Jordan equalised – their first goal at a World Cup with a strike equally as good just after half-time from Ali Olwan.
Cite this Entry
“Contorting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contorting. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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