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
With its choppy layers, tousled texture, and extra length at the nape, this wolf cut brought a rebellious twist to her usual regal aesthetic. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 4 Nov. 2026 Lively tends to style her long locks in loose, tousled curls, making Tuesday’s look a fun twist on her usual hairdo. — Arushi Jacob, Footwear News, 4 Nov. 2026
Verb
Gently wrap in wax or parchment paper, twist the ends, and chill until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 2 days ahead of time. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026 The rat bit and tore and scratched while the snake twisted and flailed. — Madeline Ffitch, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 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
  • Saucy and sticky, the tender ribs tug impeccably off the bone.
    — Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The sci-fi horror film follows the seven-member crew of the commercial space tug Nostromo who, upon returning to Earth, intercept a strange transmission from a nearby moon.
    — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of tug
Noun
  • Even at the album’s more sedate tempos, gyrofield still delivers the manic intensity that marks their best work, building luscious tension with an arsenal of top-shelf production tricks.
    — Lisle Younger, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Trader Joe’s focaccia, sliced and toasted, will do the trick, or their ciabatta, sliced into small squares.
    — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of trick
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
  • In both films, everything comes in threes, the incessant crosscutting is accorded a flashy metaphysical weight, and time itself is manipulated, distorted, and rearranged to the point of meaninglessness.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of distort
Verb
  • Cue designs that turn the alligator into articulated geometries that rest against the collarbone, dangle from earlobes or curl around fingers and wrists.
    — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2026
  • For formal occasions, Diana often swept her layers away from her face, letting the ends curl outward beneath her dazzling jewels.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of curl
Verb
  • The position was secured thanks to a small battery that was triggered by a small pin at the launch and powered the camera, a spinning motor wheel, and a gyroscope for the task.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
  • But adding an additional constraint to this scenario, the original black hole needs to be spinning at the maximum possible speed.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of spin
Verb
  • Quinn Sullivan started the sequence with a cross in front of goal that Indiana Vassilev settled and pulled goalkeeper William Yarbrough out of his area to find Cavan Sullivan for a close-range finish into an empty net.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • After Stephen Colbert was accused of crossing a picket line during a Harvard University event, the evening was cut short when someone pulled a fire alarm.
    — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of pull
Verb
  • Previous research by the researchers documented twitching limbs and moving retinas in another jumping spider species.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Just then, Chee Meng’s fishing rod twitched, and the line began to run out.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of twitch
Verb
  • The fantasy film about a woman (Olivia Colman) who weaves a perfect lover (Alexander Skarsgård) out of the titular material is one of the happy box office surprises of Q4 so far.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Nov. 2026
  • In the build-up, Almirón weaved through Toronto’s defense and played a give-and-go with Alexey Miranchuk, who assisted on the winger’s goal.
    — Amna Subhan, AJC.com, 2 Nov. 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 Nov. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about twist

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