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
The ice cream layer between the red velvet cake layers is a refreshing twist to traditional desserts, especially when topped with fresh blueberries. — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 9 July 2026 In recent years, fashion trends have favored taking pieces steeped in history and giving them a modern twist. — René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 9 July 2026
Verb
Clark survived that threat of twisting her ankle. — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 27 June 2026 In other words, the metaphorical coin must be weighted—in this case, by hominins doing things on purpose, like laying their dead to rest in the narrow, twisting darkness of Rising Star. — ArsTechnica, 25 June 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
  • Thus, with gravity the ultimate winner of this cosmic tug of war, the star's core collapses, sending violent shockwaves rippling outward into the outer stellar layers, which are ripped away.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 10 July 2026
  • Momentus’ spacecraft can also serve as space tugs to ferry smaller satellites or experiments from one orbit to another.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 July 2026
Definition of tug
Noun
  • Australia responded six minutes later following a trick lineout move involving hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa throwing to scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan at the front, getting the return pass and starting the movement that finished with him scoring.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
  • By stop-starting Gvardiol — a trick that lulls defenders into a false sense of security — and then faking to go one way and then the other, Messi found space where there seemed to be none and set up Julian Alvarez for Argentina’s third goal.
    — Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of trick
Verb
  • Nigeria rejected the International Monetary Fund’s finding that the country has engaged in extra-budgetary public spending that distorts its deficit levels, blaming poor interpretation of its financial reporting method for the misunderstanding.
    — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 10 July 2026
  • Hiding workforce-scale spend in IT line items avoids the conversation; treating it as labor distorts it.
    — Priya Sawant, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of distort
Verb
  • After curling a stunning effort into the top corner, Lopes Cabral raced over to celebrate with the Cape Verde supporters in the stadium.
    — Tom Burrows, New York Times, 12 July 2026
  • As flames licked at the fabric and smoke curled toward the ceiling, an overcapacity crowd of more than 1,800 panicked, rushing for the exits and jamming against doors that opened inward.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026
Definition of curl
Verb
  • Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing spun to face home plate umpire Dan Iassogna, holding up his mitt with the ball inside.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • The find came after the observatory's camera also helped to identify in January a massive asteroid nearly the size of eight football fields that was confirmed to be the fastest-spinning large asteroid ever found.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Definition of spin
Verb
  • Williams pulls even with Steffi Graf for the most major championships in the Open era, which began in 1968.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • As the sun expands, gravitational tides act like a subtle brake, slowly draining Earth's orbital energy and pulling the planet inward.
    — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of pull
Verb
  • There is something cultish about that idea — the player who tends not to start but has the knack to appear later on with antennae twitching, ready to seize the day and alter the course of a match.
    — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 21 June 2026
  • Leon Stetson was allegedly twitching, so officers moved him away from Carrie Stetson and started to render medical aid.
    — Kellie Love, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026
Definition of twitch
Verb
  • Police continue to investigate why the driver was weaving and drove into the pole, Becchina said.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026
  • Residents complained about teenagers popping wheelies through shopping centers, blowing stop signs, weaving around pedestrians and treating greenways like race courses.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2026
Definition of weave

Phrases Containing twist

Browse Nearby Words

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 14 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on twist

Nglish: Translation of twist for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about twist

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