as in winding
marked by a long series of irregular curves
a twisting mountain road that requires extra careful driving
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in twist
a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something
it took some twisting, but I finally got the top off the jar
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in distorting
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in coiling
to follow a circular or spiral course
the path gently twisted down the hill
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in rotating
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
4
as in pulling
to move by or as if by a forceful rotation
kept twisting the cap until it came free
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in tossing
to make jerky or restless movements
the dental patient twisted nervously in the chair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in weaving
to cause to twine about one another
has the habit of idly twisting the strands of her hair while daydreaming
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of twisting
Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Tehran has made quite a penny charging tolls on the Strait, and twisting the knife by demanding payment in cryptocurrency or Chinese yuan, according to the FT.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
Borgli has nasty fun with that pressure (an obnoxious photographer, played by Zoë Winters, is a highlight), before really twisting the knife with Emma’s big admission.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
The latest to join the ranks is nicotinamide mononucleotide—or NMN—a slightly tongue-twisting name that’s been popping up everywhere, especially within celebrity circles.
—Alex Vance, SELF, 31 Mar. 2026
Before the words twisting in her mouth could emerge, a bespectacled cop materialized through the thin line of smoke, speeding past her, toward me.
—Literary Hub, 27 Mar. 2026
But twisting a piece of metal is not proprietary.
—Julian Rose, Artforum, 26 Mar. 2026
Footage shows the group acquiescing to the police instructions when an officer in plain clothes – possibly indicating a special police unit – grabbed Salman’s hand, twisting it and causing a fracture in the wrist.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
Mateta hit the bar after twisting his body to reach Munoz’s cross, which had been parried by goalkeeper Zlatan Alomerovic.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
The uncanniness of twisting the paraphernalia of daily life into something unfamiliar or strange satisfied the Surrealist desire to subvert convention and tap into the unconscious.
—Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Tehran has made quite a penny charging tolls on the Strait, and twisting the knife by demanding payment in cryptocurrency or Chinese yuan, according to the FT.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
Borgli has nasty fun with that pressure (an obnoxious photographer, played by Zoë Winters, is a highlight), before really twisting the knife with Emma’s big admission.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
The latest to join the ranks is nicotinamide mononucleotide—or NMN—a slightly tongue-twisting name that’s been popping up everywhere, especially within celebrity circles.
—Alex Vance, SELF, 31 Mar. 2026
Before the words twisting in her mouth could emerge, a bespectacled cop materialized through the thin line of smoke, speeding past her, toward me.
—Literary Hub, 27 Mar. 2026
But twisting a piece of metal is not proprietary.
—Julian Rose, Artforum, 26 Mar. 2026
Footage shows the group acquiescing to the police instructions when an officer in plain clothes – possibly indicating a special police unit – grabbed Salman’s hand, twisting it and causing a fracture in the wrist.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
Mateta hit the bar after twisting his body to reach Munoz’s cross, which had been parried by goalkeeper Zlatan Alomerovic.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for twisting
Adjective
-
Chapin said Tokyo’s narrow and winding streets, often crowded with right-handed cars driving on the left side of the road, will present a fresh test for its AI technology, but that Nuro’s systems are designed to adapt and respond in real time.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Hosch, 67, went for a hike on part of the Appalachian Trail, a winding path that extends almost 2,200 miles through 14 states.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Festivals have recognized that, while K-pop broke a lot of ground, many other countries have distinct twists on the formula worth exploring.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Amin Ahmad puts his own immigrant twist on an American literary classic.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The front has square glass block masonry on the lower half, which lets light in while reducing what's visible outside by distorting the view.—
Stefan Ionescu
March 30,
New Atlas,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Kyle is just outing herself as a gossip and is distorting what everyone has to say to try to one-up Dorit in her own life.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As a performer, Tetzloff uses a natural physicality, at times leaning back from the piano as if to take a good look at his hands on the keys, and at other times coiling forward in rapt concentration.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Look to Hermès for a fresh take on jewelry styling by coiling a silk scarf around a pendant and pairing with a simple button-up and trousers.—
Andrea Zendejas,
Vogue,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Beverage director Jax Donahue divides the cocktail menu between classics and two rotating destinations (recently from San Francisco to Mexico City).—
Chris Malloy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The Today show has had a rotating group of hosts in the past few months, due to Guthrie’s absence.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Just like Hailey Bieber—who opted for a ’90s-era, yellow and pink-trimmed Dior slip—Jenner had her fun with pulling festival-ready archive fashion.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Rodrigo is pulling double duty as musical guest on her episode, followed by Noah Kahan and Paul McCartney.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Pidgeon’s lip biting and hair tossing was also an intentional choice.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Brody Getchell finished 2-for-3 offensively, driving in a trio of runs while tossing a clean inning in relief as Whitman-Hanson (2-0) defeated Patriot League rival Plymouth South, 7-1.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The poem tells the story of the seduction of a sixteen-year-old girl by the watermonster, a mythical figure, weaving together themes of place, identity, trauma, and transformation.—
Patrick Dundon,
JSTOR Daily,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The mopeds and similar modes of transportation have become notorious in Boston, often weaving through traffic and lining up outside of popular takeout spots.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Twisting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/twisting. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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