screw

verb

Definition of screwnext
1
as in to distort
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition screwed up his face at the taste of the medicine

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to squeeze
to rob by the use of trickery or threats managed to screw his siblings out of their share of the inheritance

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 screw Last year, Katz filmed a video of his new protégé shucking oysters, chopping wood, swinging kettlebells, and speaking directly to the camera in a muddy sweatshirt about how the oligarchy had screwed their beloved state. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026 Reinstall the vent covers—Once everything is fully dry, carefully screw the vent covers back into place. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 6 July 2026 The breeze was screwing with the sound system, and the temperature dropped abruptly. — Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 26 June 2026 With Dumb Money, also directed by Gillespie, Rogen played businessman Gabe Plotkin, who got screwed in the GameStop stock drama. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for screw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screw
  1. distort
  2. squeeze
  3. deform
  4. cheat
  5. contort
  6. pluck
  7. curl
  8. stick
Verb
  • Even after the team deliberately distorted the geometry, the one-way transport remained remarkably stable.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 1 Aug. 2026
  • By surrounding Brazilian funk’s fundamental elements with uncanny violin samples and disorienting synths, Agazero seems to offer a bleak vision of the way the country’s most popular genre has been distorted and misrepresented overseas.
    — Amanda Cavalcanti, Pitchfork, 31 July 2026
Definition of distort
Verb
  • Yet despite their clear burnout, most can’t afford to simply quit; not with the cost of living squeezing every paycheck, AI already closing in on entry-level roles, and one of the toughest job markets in years waiting on the other side.
    — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 29 July 2026
  • As a result, in 2015-16, regulators delayed the crab season for months, ultimately squeezing the typical seven months down to roughly two.
    — Susanne Rust Follow, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
Definition of squeeze
Verb
  • By watching and analyzing how the soft fingers deformed, the AI could tell the difference between touching sand and touching the pen, estimate the pen’s location, and guide the gripper to lift it out.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 20 July 2026
  • Working on his audio venture makes Jacob more narcissistic and less socially competent; the podcast deforms his understanding of what friends are for.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
Definition of deform
Verb
  • The rumors of cheating with addresses and recruiting players have run rampant, but many schools do it.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2026
  • The story of a cheating husband's double life racked up more than 23 million views in its first month, reaching the top ten in 62 countries, including the US, and the number one spot in almost two dozen countries.
    — Kate Bartlett, NPR, 24 July 2026
Definition of cheat
Verb
  • The hosting procedure for the 2030 and 2034 tournaments was contorted to prevent Saudi Arabia from facing opposition.
    — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 31 July 2026
  • Devotees of his fashions will likely disagree, seeing his pencil strokes bring to life elegant dresses and coats with flame-like lapels, or depict a crane and a contorting human with the same energetic strokes.
    — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 21 July 2026
Definition of contort
Verb
  • Alix Earle, and her younger sister Ashtin, have given the skinny brow trend their own proverbial thumbs up, plucking away their natural shape over the last year.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 27 July 2026
  • The clip, plucked out of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, spread like wildfire through the digital landscape.
    — Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
Definition of pluck
Verb
  • Méndez curled a free kick from the right side that went untouched off the post and into the net in the 84th minute to tie it.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • For an additional pop of color, Cardi wore her hair in an icy blue bob that was parted to the side and curled under at the ends.
    — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026
Definition of curl
Verb
  • After Ospreay saved Omega, Omega stuck Ospreay with a One Winged Angel and AEW Redemption mercifully went off the air.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • The Ravens waived Diego Pavia this week, which cut down on competition for UConn’s Joe Fagnano to stick as a rookie, undrafted free agent quarterback.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 26 July 2026
Definition of stick

Phrases Containing screw

Browse Nearby Words

screenwriters
screw
screw around
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Screw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screw. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on screw

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about screw

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