corkscrew 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of corkscrewnext
as in spiral
turning around an axis like the thread of a screw an angelic child with beautiful corkscrew curls

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

corkscrew

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to pull
to draw out by force or with effort practically every word had to be corkscrewed out of the tight-lipped witness

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to curl
to follow a circular or spiral course the trail corkscrews through dense woods to the top of the steep hill

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 corkscrew
Adjective
The size and shape of antelope horns range dramatically, from the tiny spikes of duikers to the majestic corkscrew horns (more than 160 cm [63 inches] long) of the greater kudu. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Apr. 2026 The Oscar winner's hair has changed a lot over the years, from her iconic red corkscrew curls in 1983 to a long blonde mane in 2026. — John Russell, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
Above ground, corkscrew plants produce small green leaves and delicate flowers. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026 For dinner, choose the soon-to-open French bistro Petit Trois from chef Ludo Lefebvre, or opt for casual comfort (burgers, Jidori chicken Milanese, corkscrew fries) at the convivial, all-day restaurant. — Siobhan Reid, Vogue, 25 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for corkscrew
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corkscrew
  1. spiral
  2. pull
  3. curl
  4. extract
  5. coil
  6. pluck
  7. wind
  8. curve
Adjective
  • Ragusa is a spiral sea snail, closer to a small murex than a clam, usually simmered in tomato with garlic and chili like most small Adriatic mollusks.
    — Jenn Rice, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • When the other three hatch a plan to finally break his streak before his wedding, things spiral rapidly out of control.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 17 July 2026
Definition of spiral
Verb
  • Eileen Tyrrell, a 27-year-old bookseller, pulled the cushions off her couch to arrange makeshift seating in her Brooklyn apartment.
    — Grey Battle, Washington Post, 16 July 2026
  • The strong currents from flash floods can pull drivers off roadways.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of pull
Verb
  • Meg Stalter once again donned the bratty, curled wig of Mary Todd Lincoln last night, returning to her Broadway debut performance as the lead in Cole Escola’s Oh, Mary!
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 18 July 2026
  • Kylian Mbappe, France vs Croatia, 2018 Mbappe puts the game out of Croatia’s reach by giving the keeper the eyes from distance, shaping to curl one to the right before sliding one low to the left.
    — Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Definition of curl
Verb
  • If the reorganization lag is being compounded by organized friction rather than just cost and complexity, the 8-to-12-year timeline Goldman extracted from the ICT era may turn out to be optimistic.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 July 2026
  • Because the Lighthouse Nebula is relatively faint in X-rays, the researchers developed new analysis techniques to extract as much information as possible from the observations.
    — Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 14 July 2026
Definition of extract
Verb
  • Dry all surfaces completely and replace knobs, drip pans, and coils back on the stove.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 July 2026
  • For example, a gardener may not see a snake coiled among the plants.
    — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of coil
Verb
  • In all, designing, building and assembling the horse involved a team of 45, not much less than the number of men on Odysseus’ ship (and roughly the same amount on board after the Cyclops and Scylla monsters had plucked off a few).
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 13 July 2026
  • This current year, though, feels like a regression, with a lineup that, bar one or two interesting choices, mostly feels like it could have been plucked straight out of 2015.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
Definition of pluck
Verb
  • Virginia Bender Telluride, two winding miles farther on, has a bigger name but is still significantly smaller than other ski towns like Aspen and Vail.
    — Catherine Dunwoody, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Make a pit stop at Elliniko Kafeneio in Ermoupoli for an afternoon pick-me-up piece of portokalopita; explore the winding streets of Ano Syros in the evenings.
    — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 17 July 2026
Definition of wind
Verb
  • But others could involve the light bouncing off walls, curving through the space or tracing wildly improbable detours before reaching its destination.
    — Aldo Romero, The Conversation, 15 July 2026
  • The large double flowers have a tropical appearance, with forward curving purple petals tipped in lime green.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 12 July 2026
Definition of curve

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corkscrew
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Cite this Entry

“Corkscrew.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corkscrew. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on corkscrew

Nglish: Translation of corkscrew for Spanish Speakers

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