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
Hidden cascades of seismic ice stream deformation ETH Zürich: Ice streams move due to tiny ice quakes
Avery Hurt is a freelance science journalist.
—
Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
The study showed how ground deformation varied across the cities—for example, the area around LaGuardia Airport is sinking much faster than most of the rest of New York City.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 8 May 2025
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to track seismic activity, gas emissions, and ground deformation to assess any potential changes in behavior.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025
In the northern Sierra, there are currently no signs of deformation.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deformation
Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
The study showed how ground deformation varied across the cities—for example, the area around LaGuardia Airport is sinking much faster than most of the rest of New York City.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 8 May 2025
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to track seismic activity, gas emissions, and ground deformation to assess any potential changes in behavior.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025
In the northern Sierra, there are currently no signs of deformation.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deformation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deformation
Noun
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Meanwhile, 30 percent of professionals cited fears that AI tools might be misused for deception or distortion.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 June 2025
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Star noted that current distortions are not always malicious but often stem from a lack of training.—
Marcos Magaña,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2025
Noun
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The dog's most distinctive feature—a noticeable facial deformity—raised immediate questions.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
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Charcot foot is an uncommon deformity of the foot that happens because of nerve damage, often from diabetes.—
Isabel Casimiro,
Verywell Health,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deformation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deformation. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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