twist 1 of 2

noun

Definition of twistnext
1
as in twisting
a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something with a forceful twist she loosened the bolt

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2
as in trick
an odd or peculiar habit my roommate has his little twists, and I have mine, so things should balance out

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twist

2 of 2

verb

ˈtwist How to pronounce twist (audio)
1
as in to distort
to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of my enemies will twist my words, but you'll only hear the truth out of me

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2
as in to curl
to follow a circular or spiral course the path gently twisted down the hill

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3
as in to spin
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis twisted my wrist around to stretch it

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4
as in to pull
to move by or as if by a forceful rotation kept twisting the cap until it came free

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5
as in to twitch
to make jerky or restless movements the dental patient twisted nervously in the chair

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6
as in to weave
to cause to twine about one another has the habit of idly twisting the strands of her hair while daydreaming

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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 twist
Noun
Its 520 lb-ft of torque eclipses its predecessor, the LT2, which offered 470 lb-ft of twist. — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026 The story of former Georgia defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod took another twist; he was arrested Wednesday on a misdemeanor charge of criminal trespassing—damage to property, according to the Athens-Clarke County Jail log. — Connor Riley, AJC.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
Take care to not wring, scrub, or twist the material during the process. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026 The system shudders a bit and then gets back to normal, like a person stubbing a toe or twisting an ankle faces discomfort and difficulty walking for a while. — Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for twist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for twist
  1. tug
  2. trick
  3. distort
  4. curl
  5. spin
  6. pull
  7. twitch
  8. weave
Noun
  • Brushes with beads that tug at your strands and feel rough on the scalp?
    — Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 31 Aug. 2026
  • After three or four weeks, a gentle tug on the stem should meet resistance, indicating that the cutting has rooted.
    — Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of tug
Noun
  • The Cinderella dress that Kaitlyn Argyriou’s mother had sewn for her as a child and which Argyriou’s daughter, Avery, 4, had planned to wear trick-or-treating in Colorado Springs on Halloween.
    — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The tips and tricks for maintaining hosiery that used to be passed down by family and friends are in danger of being lost to time and ever-changing fashion trends.
    — Jolie Kerr, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of trick
Verb
  • In the twenty-tens, modern investigations made clear that the work was in danger of becoming distorted by this display, which would need to be redesigned.
    — John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
  • However, landmasses are greatly distorted toward the poles, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere.
    — Jewel Bright, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of distort
Verb
  • She’s played with a darkly enigmatic, unnerving quality by James in her finest work to date — a knowing, even domineering smile often curling around her lips.
    — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The faster lines already have started to curl higher, as well.
    — Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of curl
Verb
  • Marie has been reduced to a low-pressure system that is still spinning offshore and sending a deep tropical air mass to the Southern California region, said climate scientist Daniel Swain.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • DJs spun Wasian musicians, including Rodrigo, Mitski, and Japanese Breakfast.
    — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of spin
Verb
  • One of the resources pulled was the Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool, which was designed to capture information on cars, bicycles, and pedestrians, according to the outlet.
    — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Moreno had previously put the club up for sale in August 2022 before pulling the team off the market five months later.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of pull
Verb
  • The 5-11, 210-pounder is a sudden cutter who runs with power and twitch, attacking space like a great punt returner.
    — Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The muscles in Lola Petticrew’s face twitch ever so slightly, indicating Catherine’s excitement that the police are now in possession of this picture.
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of twitch
Verb
  • In a women's cooperative in Morocco's High Atlas Mountains, members weave wedding blankets, and at a workshop in Bagru in India, artisans pound block prints onto fabric.
    — Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Novotny recently created the look for Julia Fox, weaving chestnut tones through the deeper base for a soft, lived-in effect.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of weave

Phrases Containing twist

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twirls
twist
twisted
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Cite this Entry

“Twist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/twist. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on twist

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about twist

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