SCREWS Synonyms: 82 Similar and Opposite Words

screws

verb

present tense third-person singular of screw

as in distorts

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

as in squeezes

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 screws David’s view The modern left is at its most powerful inside the Democratic Party after the party screws things up. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2026 Loose hardware Give any bolts, brackets, and screws a quick once-over to make sure nothing has worked itself loose. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026 The pen cap then screws onto the lower tube to create an extended striker that's easy to grip and move. — New Atlas, 22 June 2026 Presented with an opportunity to finally confess his feelings to Nikki, our man screws the metaphorical pooch. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2026 Though, to be fair, Coop screws this up more often than not. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026 Kinto’s travel tumbler ($34) is a handsome receptacle available in a number of colors, with a lid that screws on tight and enough insulation to keep a cup of coffee warm all day long. — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025 Or are those simply screws Vrabel’s staff will tighten with more time and practice? — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 25 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for screws

Verb

The mathematical description of how a telescope distorts a point of light is called its point spread function.

— John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 5 Nov. 2026
The importance of his work, the difficulty of it—the Hollywood reverence almost distorts it.

— Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of distorts

Verb

The low-rise waist sits comfortably on my hips and ensures that nothing squeezes my midsection, and the straight leg cut is incredibly flattering.

— Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Nov. 2026
Southwest squeezes past Carter-Riverside for the final berth, but both games could go either way.

— Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of squeezes

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
As the motor rotates the end, the rod deforms and stores elastic energy.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of deforms

Verb

Trump sometimes plucks memes from a sprawling ecosystem of online conservative supporters, and sometimes his government staff produces them as part of their official messaging.

— Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
His torso and thighs grow eye-poppingly muscular beneath their skimpy fur-and-leather togs—a development that does not go unnoticed by a warrior named Red Hair, who plucks the young hunk from his post and tosses him into the prime time of the gladiator pit.

— Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 June 2026

Definition of plucks

Verb

Most notably, the Stranger (Daniel Weyman) is revealed to be Gandalf, and Sauron (Charlie Vickers) tortures and kills Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards).

— Allison DeGrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2026
At first, all signs point to Bobby, including a mercenary who survived the attack on Halstead Manor that Eddie tortures to extract information.

— Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of tortures

Verb

The move, orchestrated by Everett to satisfy the demands of the company’s top-dollar backers, cheats Michael out of his stock options and equity in the company.

— Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Any forward who cheats for defence, as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has for much of his career, will play an elevated role on a Babcock team.

— Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 26 June 2026