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
Each of the asymmetrical stones used in the brooches, which were individually polished and finished, were cut specifically for the drawing of the creation with 18-karat yellow gold prongs screwed in to protect the fragile stone tableaus.
—
Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 12 June 2026
As a bonus, this vacuum comes with different attachments, including a dusting brush and hair screw tool.
—Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 12 June 2026
America’s favorite sport is not football, or soccer, but screwing over sports fans, which is why FIFA should hold its World Cup in the United States permanently.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2026
At least Mercedes is reverting back to screwing things together rather than gluing things in a back-to-basics manufacturing push.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 11 June 2026
Cochliomyia hominivorax, the New World screw worm fly, or screw-worm for short, is a species of parasitic fly that is well known for the way in which its larvae (maggots) eat living tissue.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 11 June 2026
The Mission 1 Pro ships with one Enduro 2 battery, a USB-C cable, an adhesive mount, a mounting buckle, and a thumb screw to secure the buckle to the camera's swing-out fingers.
—Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 11 June 2026
Set in the 1980s, when Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles novels were first released, Rivals is a tongue-in-cheek period drama about the cutthroat world of regional-television franchises, whose characters backstab and smoke and screw with relish.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
Screwworm gets its name from the maggots’ habit of burrowing — or screwing — into a wound, according to the USDA.
—Jeffrey Collins, Fortune, 9 June 2026
Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 12 June 2026
As a bonus, this vacuum comes with different attachments, including a dusting brush and hair screw tool.
—Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 12 June 2026
America’s favorite sport is not football, or soccer, but screwing over sports fans, which is why FIFA should hold its World Cup in the United States permanently.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2026
At least Mercedes is reverting back to screwing things together rather than gluing things in a back-to-basics manufacturing push.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 11 June 2026
Cochliomyia hominivorax, the New World screw worm fly, or screw-worm for short, is a species of parasitic fly that is well known for the way in which its larvae (maggots) eat living tissue.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 11 June 2026
The Mission 1 Pro ships with one Enduro 2 battery, a USB-C cable, an adhesive mount, a mounting buckle, and a thumb screw to secure the buckle to the camera's swing-out fingers.
—Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 11 June 2026
Set in the 1980s, when Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles novels were first released, Rivals is a tongue-in-cheek period drama about the cutthroat world of regional-television franchises, whose characters backstab and smoke and screw with relish.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
Screwworm gets its name from the maggots’ habit of burrowing — or screwing — into a wound, according to the USDA.
—Jeffrey Collins, Fortune, 9 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screw
Verb
-
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
-
But the result drew criticism online, with viewers saying the technology distorted the former Spurs star's facial features.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
In an era of squeezing margins, a deliberate focus on premium products is a business survival tactic.—
Peter Su,
Rolling Stone,
9 Dec. 2025
-
Competition from Chinese brands and Beijing’s export restrictions on rare earth elements and semiconductors have squeezed Germany’s flagship sector.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Habermas was well aware of how the internet had deformed his beloved public sphere.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
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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
Verb
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Jay Cooke, who had once been lionized for his role in financing the Union victory, was attacked in the press and accused of cheating ordinary Americans out of their savings.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
-
Here, Ruhian diversifies his skill set, killing people at a distance with a bow and arrow, which feels like cheating.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Sprinting and contorting to the music, there’s the extraordinary physical performer Yandass, tearing up Theo Clinkard’s fluent choreography.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
5 Dec. 2025
-
Vonn walked with a limp, which contorted her body in a way that put stress on other areas, like her hips and ribs.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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Either way, what ancient musicians realized is that changing the length of a string also changed its vibration when plucked, which in turn changed the musical pitch.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
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
-
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
-
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 17 Jun. 2026.
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