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
Scientists in 2024 confirmed that Earth’s inner core reversed its spin, and in February 2025 the same team revealed changes to the inner core’s shape, with deformations in its shallowest level.
—
Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
Time-series analysis of shear deformation rates, based on satellite data, also showed a sharp increase during that same winter.
—Ritsuko Kawai, Wired News, 22 Dec. 2025
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
The researchers found cracks in some of EURECA's composite struts, as well as fractures and deformations in several scientific instruments that remained on board.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deformation
Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
Time-series analysis of shear deformation rates, based on satellite data, also showed a sharp increase during that same winter.
—Ritsuko Kawai, Wired News, 22 Dec. 2025
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
The researchers found cracks in some of EURECA's composite struts, as well as fractures and deformations in several scientific instruments that remained on board.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deformation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deformation
Noun
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And to many white South Africans, the warped way their country is depicted abroad isn’t even the most important distortion.—
Eve Fairbanks,
The Dial,
27 Jan. 2026
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By studying these distortions across large swathes of the universe, scientists can get closer to unmasking dark matter and its various hiding places.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The body tries to repair the damage, but healing is often slow and incomplete, leaving the bone weakened and vulnerable to collapse or deformity — changes that can lead to lasting hip problems.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Jan. 2026
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The genetic disorder is a connective tissue disease that leads to fragile bones and related complications like short stature, bone deformities, and fractures, per Mayo Clinic.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deformation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deformation. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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