Synonyms of twist

twist 1 of 2

noun

1

as in twisting

a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something

with a forceful twist she loosened the bolt

Synonyms & Similar Words

• twisting
• tug
• wrench
• pull
• wrenching
• wresting
• yank
• wringing
• extraction
• displacement
• dislocation
• draw
• draft

2

as in trick

an odd or peculiar habit

my roommate has his little twists, and I have mine, so things should balance out

Synonyms & Similar Words

• trick
• quirk
• characteristic
• trait
• mannerism
• kink
• eccentricity
• peculiarity
• singularity
• idiosyncrasy
• habit
• oddity
• quip
• tic
• curiosity
• individualism
• crotchet
• erraticism
• tendency
• pattern
• character
• attribute
• attitude
• practice
• way
• personality
• quiddity
• affectation
• property
• custom
• airs
• addiction
• bent
• perversion
• inclination
• penchant
• turn
• humor
• weirdness
• wont
• propensity
• predilection
• proclivity
• abnormality
• predisposition
• identity
• genius
• mark
• nature
• disposition
• individuality
• neuroticism
• temperament
• partiality
• leaning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conformity
• sameness

twist

2 of 2

verb

ˈtwist 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• distort
• misrepresent
• slant
• complicate
• pervert
• obscure
• cook
• misinterpret
• bend
• misstate
• falsify
• warp
• color
• fudge
• confuse
• misrelate
• garble
• mistake
• censor
• disguise
• mask
• camouflage
• veil
• gloss (over)
• whitewash
• dissemble
• lie
• mistranslate
• misdescribe
• misspeak
• mystify
• mix (up)
• belie
• confound
• fib
• bowdlerize
• prevaricate
• palter
• equivocate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• explain
• interpret
• illustrate
• clarify
• clear (up)
• spell out
• illuminate
• decipher

2

as in to curl

to follow a circular or spiral course

the path gently twisted down the hill

Synonyms & Similar Words

• curl
• coil
• wind
• curve
• swirl
• spiral
• circle
• entwine
• twine
• weave
• sweep
• turn
• corkscrew
• loop
• arc
• bend
• arch
• whirl
• wheel
• swerve
• crook
• veer
• hook
• bow
• intertwine
• encircle
• bulge
• zigzag
• meander
• interlace
• lace
• enlace

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• straighten

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spin
• rotate
• turn
• swing
• twirl
• swirl
• swivel
• pivot
• roll
• wheel
• whirl
• revolve
• screw
• crank
• wind
• unscrew
• reel
• coil
• twiddle
• circulate

4

as in to pull

to move by or as if by a forceful rotation

kept twisting the cap until it came free

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pull
• tug
• yank
• pluck
• wrench
• jerk
• wring
• remove
• pry
• extract
• wrest
• tweak
• draw
• lug
• dredge (up)
• lever
• shift
• disturb
• displace
• budge
• transpose
• jimmy
• dislocate
• transfer

5

as in to twitch

to make jerky or restless movements

the dental patient twisted nervously in the chair

Synonyms & Similar Words

• twitch
• toss
• fidget
• squirm
• jerk
• wiggle
• fiddle
• shake
• writhe
• jig
• tremble
• shiver
• jiggle
• wriggle
• thrash
• squiggle
• thresh
• flutter
• shudder
• quiver
• flit
• pace
• quake
• twitter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rest
• relax
• unwind
• calm (down)
• still

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• weave
• braid
• mix
• intertwine
• blend
• entwine
• ply
• writhe
• implicate
• interweave
• interlace
• wreathe
• inweave
• intertwist
• lace
• plait
• enlace
• fuse
• link
• pleach
• plat
• join

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unwind
• disentangle
• untangle
• uncoil
• untwine

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of twist

Noun

In a particularly Ethan Hunt-ish twist, the actor wears a rubbery disguise—a potbellied suit, a scraggly gray comb-over, and a smattering of old-guy makeup. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026

The story celebrates love in various forms and features unexpected twists, with moments of humor and others that evoke laughter, applause and even a few surprises from the audience. — Franchesca Guim, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026

Verb

At one point during Paramount’s tense standoff with the state attorneys general, the company threatened to move its headquarters out of Los Angeles — a threat that many viewed as an effort to twist Bonta’s arm into cutting a favorable deal. — Liam Reilly, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026

In this age of unremitting test screenings and CinemaScore, downer endings typically score lower, so Abrams appreciates that Cregger and Sony weren’t afraid to figuratively twist the knife in the audience. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing twist

• twist one's arm