as in distorts
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 contorts
At this point, you’d be forgiven for expecting a straightforward werewolf story, but Cassidy’s novel stretches and contorts into something far stranger, more audacious, and ultimately, both heartbreaking and triumphant.
—
Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
With an almost modern-day Charlie Chaplin-esque physicality, Moss dances, contorts, and frolics amongst the shoes, their boxes, and fixtures in the store for a mesmerizing, can't-look-away effect.
—Roxanne Robinson, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Stewart contorts his face with a look of disbelief when asked if Montgomery has stayed on him.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
With an almost modern-day Charlie Chaplin-esque physicality, Moss dances, contorts, and frolics amongst the shoes, their boxes, and fixtures in the store for a mesmerizing, can't-look-away effect.
—Roxanne Robinson, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Stewart contorts his face with a look of disbelief when asked if Montgomery has stayed on him.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contorts
Verb
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Treating it as optional distorts the financial picture.—
Malana VanTyler,
Sacbee.com,
23 Feb. 2026
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This concentration distorts markets, raises costs for families, threatens national security, and removes decisions from Texans’ hands.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Going to space is harsh on the human body, and as a new study from our research team finds, the brain shifts upward and backward and deforms inside the skull after spaceflight.—
Rachael Seidler,
The Conversation,
11 Feb. 2026
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Conventional drones hit their limits at around 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) as their frame deforms and electronics fail.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The retrospection tortures her.—
Alexandra Rockey Fleming,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
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Later, in one of the movie's most satisfying scenes, Millie locks Andrew in the attic and tortures him by loudly smashing each plate.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contorts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contorts. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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