as in to distort
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition a cynic whose face seems to be permanently deformed by a sneer

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb deform contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of deform are contort, distort, and warp. While all these words mean "to mar or spoil by or as if by twisting," deform may imply a change of shape through stress, injury, or accident of growth.

a face deformed by hatred

How are the words distort and contort related as synonyms of deform?

Distort and contort both imply a wrenching from the natural or normal, but contort suggests a more involved twisting and a more grotesque and painful result.

the odd camera angle distorts the figure
disease had contorted her body

When can warp be used instead of deform?

In some situations, the words warp and deform are roughly equivalent. However, warp indicates an uneven shrinking that bends or twists out of a flat plane.

warped floorboards

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 deform Lightweight and ultra-durable, these frames won’t break or deform over time. Christopher Murray May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025 The flexible polymer ensures that the system can both deform and recover back to its original state when the current is no longer applied. IEEE Spectrum, 12 Aug. 2025 The grandfather also showed him the sorry sight of contemporary hedges deformed by diabolical flail trimmers that chewed the natural architecture of branches into an anarchy of twigs. Annie Proulx, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2025 The latter has lower thermal conductivity, Sun’s team explains, meaning the frame’s temperature changes much more slowly when cold sets in and thus doesn’t deform as easily. You Xiaoying, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deform
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deform
Verb
  • In a world where images are so numerous and so difficult to understand, truth itself can be in danger, threatened by false interpretations and distorted, misleading half-truths.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Executives may tone down accomplishments to avoid internal friction, which can distort messaging.
    Adrian Dearnell, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Both boys and girls should have the freedom to experience childhood free from the pressures of contorting their growing bodies into narrow definitions of beauty or feeling the inevitable resentment and pain that comes from trying to achieve these impossible standards.
    Ashleigh N. DeLuca, Parents, 4 Sep. 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
Verb
  • Waterhouse said that screw caps generally make more sense for a wine like rosé, which isn’t intended to age, while cork is the standard for aging wines.
    Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Harrison is also a fan of the hair screw tool that’s designed to pick up long strands of hair and loose pet fur with ease.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deform.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deform. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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