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
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Recent Examples of screw
The necessary tools — screw guns, saws, hammers — aren’t easy to come by in San Quentin, California’s oldest prison; the lockup has a long history of violence, gang wars, executions and murder.
—
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
Food-grade plastic containers that have screw caps, such as 2-liter soda bottles, are best.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 2026
Anybody who has too long a résumé is screwed.
—Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 21 May 2026
Center lids on jars and screw bands fingertip tight (just until resistance is met).
—Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 12 May 2026
Put the stopper back in the sink before re-screwing the pivot nut, horizontal rod, and sliding your under sink items back into place.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 8 May 2026
Finally, the professional will install hangers to reinforce your gutters before screwing the mesh guard on top.
—Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 4 May 2026
And to screw your head onto any of it was really impossible to do.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 May 2026
If Miranda Priestly can get thrown in steerage, we’re all screwed.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
Food-grade plastic containers that have screw caps, such as 2-liter soda bottles, are best.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 2026
Anybody who has too long a résumé is screwed.
—Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 21 May 2026
Center lids on jars and screw bands fingertip tight (just until resistance is met).
—Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 12 May 2026
Put the stopper back in the sink before re-screwing the pivot nut, horizontal rod, and sliding your under sink items back into place.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 8 May 2026
Finally, the professional will install hangers to reinforce your gutters before screwing the mesh guard on top.
—Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 4 May 2026
And to screw your head onto any of it was really impossible to do.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 May 2026
If Miranda Priestly can get thrown in steerage, we’re all screwed.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screw
Verb
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This lyrical collection from B Batchelor—a 2025 Haymarket Writing Freedom Fellow, and a recipient of multiple awards from PEN America—explores the way incarceration distorts time.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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The stainless-steel finish is extremely durable and will last for years without bending or distorting.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Attendees seemed keen to squeeze as much networking as possible out of the gala, often chatting with their associates and neighbors during speakers’ remarks.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
6 June 2026
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Fuel supplies squeezed Russian emergency services acknowledged Saturday that a fire had broken out at the oil depot in Krasnodar.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
6 June 2026
Verb
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On the other hand, if the gold structure is a square pattern, oxygen molecules readily stick to the surface and are deformed to the point of splitting, leaving them available to react (indeed, under these conditions, gold will oxidize as well).—
Chris Lee,
ArsTechnica,
9 June 2026
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The impact with Bell's Camry severely deformed the SAFER barrier, which is comprised of steel and foam to absorb energy in wrecks.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
Verb
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With no one coming to save him, Santi learned to save himself — cheating cards, running schemes, talking his way into and out of everything.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
8 June 2026
-
People are robbed, assaulted and cheated.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Search the internet and there are coaches and players spotted sniffing the ammonia inhalants before a game, with their instant reactions — a noticeable head jerk or contorted face — going viral.—
Jason Jones,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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For more serious cavers who are at least 16 years old, this summer-only, four-hour tour requires crawling, climbing, and contorting.—
Robert Annis,
Midwest Living,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Go ahead and pluck away without the stress.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
10 June 2026
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Elsewhere on the ruby red carpet, Greta Lee paid homage to beloved cowgirl, Jessie, brought to life by Joan Cusack in all five films, wearing a red and white spherical, one-shoulder gown plucked straight from the Christian Dior spring 2026 couture runway.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Francisco Conceição, one of the 11 replacements to come on for Portugal, grabbed the 75th-minute winner by cutting in from the right and curling a shot into the far corner.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
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An evocation of Maat — who reigned over justice, truth and order — the plumage was stylized as graphic bands that curled around the neck for the set’s necklace.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Everyone can relate to a character waiting for a phone call, or a text, that feeling of being stuck in a purgatorial gap that won’t end until the other person has made contact.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
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Malik Washington and Jalen Tolbert are obviously very likely to stick, and Tutu Atwell will enter camp as a front-runner to make the team.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Screw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screw. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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