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 Its compact tube has a screw-on lid, and the product takes up hardly any space compared to other popular moisturizers on the market. — Elleanna Revell, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2026 Unlike MacKay’s Ferrars, seemingly the more loyal and irreproachable type, both men end up screwing over the Dashwoods in their own ways. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026 In a video from March 4, 2019, her co-worker David Xu can be seen approaching her desk, pouring a substance into the bottle, screwing the lid back on and quickly walking away. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 Corsair drilled the inner portion of its 200mm fan frames to screw directly onto the rails when they are set at their 140mm position. — Thomas Soderstrom, PC Magazine, 10 Oct. 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
  • However, attaching a metal wire directly to the delicate plasma filament would distort its structure.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Americans may disagree on solutions, but many share the belief that financial incentives have distorted the system beyond recognition.
    — Scott Levenson, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of distort
Verb
  • The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil artery between Iran and Oman, has sent oil and gas prices on the uptick, squeezing Americans at home.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Drain collard greens and squeeze gently to remove excess water.
    — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of squeeze
Verb
  • The successful campaign allowed engineers to assess how the magnet deforms under electromagnetic loads and compare its behavior with structural models.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The resulting biohybrid structure could move and deform with the living cells, allowing the electronics to operate in close mechanical contact with the biological system.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of deform
Verb
  • There are people out there saying that the Brewers are cheating.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • There’s simply no evidence of widespread voter cheating anywhere.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of cheat
Verb
  • Halfway through my hands and feet went numb, then felt like fire, and then contorted into strange positions like lobster claws.
    — Kate Berlant, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Alongside it was Anna Uddenberg’s 2026 sculpture White Noise (Soft Skills), featuring a life-size, faceless mannequin whose body is contorted by a futuristic interpretation of ergonomic office-style furniture contraptions.
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of contort
Verb
  • The Royals plucked manager Matt Quatraro from the Rays organization in 2022.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The Orioles plucked Jared Banner from the Cubs to be their new general manager under Mike Elias.
    — Josh Tolentino, Baltimore Sun, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of pluck
Verb
  • While both sides declined to comment on the specific size of the round, which includes Canadian VC Relay Ventures, Sportico previously reported that the curling company was looking to raise up to $25 million.
    — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The man with the register looked up slowly and his lips curled outward like a bow with an unseen arrow.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of curl
Verb
  • The untraditional layout stuck first gear off to the side, making the 2-3 shift most likely to be often reached for under hard use easier to crack off.
    — Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Watch Duty exploded in popularity by providing up-to-the-minute firefighting updates, fire perimeters, and on-the-scene reports to people previously stuck navigating a fractured system of emergency alerts that gave minimal information.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of stick

Phrases Containing screw

Browse Nearby Words

screenwriters
screw
screw around
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Cite this Entry

“Screw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screw. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about screw

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