CORKSCREW Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

corkscrew 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of corkscrew

as in spiral

turning around an axis like the thread of a screw an angelic child with beautiful corkscrew curls

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

corkscrew

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to curl

to follow a circular or spiral course the trail corkscrews through dense woods to the top of the steep hill

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

straighten

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

Adjective

Rubbery flagelliform silk reinforces the capture spiral to absorb shock.

— Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 28 Oct. 2026
Could the spiral flow from machine to man, from man to machine, and back again?

— Sam Kestenbaum, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of spiral

Verb

Sellers who have the option to pull their listing off the market are generally doing so.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
Many voters thank him for pulling Serbia from economic obscurity and orchestrating a period of sustained modernisation including new highways, railways, schools and hospitals.

— Reuters, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of pull

Verb

The top layers were pulled back and away from her face, then pinned behind her ears to show off major diamond earrings, and the lengths were loosely curled.

— Kara Nesvig, Allure, 19 Oct. 2026
Ten seconds into the game, Gray curled off the right wing and took a pass from teammate Jordin Canada at the top of the key.

— Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of curl

Verb

Key Takeaways These artificial channels are up to five times more selective for lithium, offering a simpler way to extract the critical battery material.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026
In lieu of sweet tea, a commercial sugar cane juicer extracts yellow-green juice.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of extract

Verb

Their soft robot, called BIOSENTER, is designed to autonomously inch through the crowded, cramped, and coiled small intestine, contracting and extending its body much like an earthworm or snake.

— Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2026
Beneath the churning buzz of the water pump in the basement corner, a milk snake coiled unnoticed.

— Madeline ffitch, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of coil

Verb

With tweezers, the scientists gently pulled the strand of silk from the spider’s spinnerets — the abdominal spigots that fibers emerge from — and reeled it in by winding it around a vial with a spinning motor.

— Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 28 Oct. 2026
And yet, even as the lawsuit and memo wound their way through the government, the Toronto International Film Festival welcomed Being Heumann as its opening-night film.

— Rebekah Taussig, Time, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of wind

Verb

No-brainer options included handsome denims with a curving leg and neo-suiting playing on mixing rather than matching sets.

— Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026
Where the Duo has curved edges and a distinct D-like appearance, the Z Fold 8 is strictly rectangular with sharp edges all around.

— Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of curve

Browse Nearby Words

corks

corkscrew

corkscrewed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Corkscrew.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corkscrew. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of corkscrew

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Pyrrhic

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes