as in distortion
the twisting of something out of its natural or normal shape or condition
the catastrophic deformation of the steel girders under the enormous weight of the bridge
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Recent Examples of deformation
Sokolowski says this can break the foam structure, causing permanent deformation.
—
Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
Right now, the deformation zone looks to be just south of our region, setting up along and just south of I-68.
—Ron Smiley, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Rain that gets through cracks in the pavement softens the soil beneath, causing more deformation under traffic loading and leading to more cracking, according to Jonathan Stewart, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
This creates an anisotropic behavior where the wheel requires minimal energy to coil for storage but resists deformation under vertical loads.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deformation
Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
Right now, the deformation zone looks to be just south of our region, setting up along and just south of I-68.
—Ron Smiley, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Rain that gets through cracks in the pavement softens the soil beneath, causing more deformation under traffic loading and leading to more cracking, according to Jonathan Stewart, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
This creates an anisotropic behavior where the wheel requires minimal energy to coil for storage but resists deformation under vertical loads.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deformation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deformation
Noun
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Some species cause distortion of the leaves.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
3 Mar. 2026
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Wealth taxes affect entrepreneurial decision-making, reduce returns on investment, introduce economic distortions and undermine job creation and business expansion.—
Jared Walczak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Investigators documented animals with health concerns including overgrown hooves, draining abscesses and limb deformities.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
27 Feb. 2026
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Court documents reveal extensive injuries including ligature marks, burn marks, broken bones and deformity sustained before Crystal Marie Falcon’s death on February 13.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deformation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deformation. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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