1
as in twistings
a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something
with a forceful twist she loosened the bolt
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in tricks
an odd or peculiar habit
my roommate has his little twists, and I have mine, so things should balance out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in distorts
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in curls
to follow a circular or spiral course
the path gently twisted down the hill
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3
4
as in pulls
to move by or as if by a forceful rotation
kept twisting the cap until it came free
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in squirms
to make jerky or restless movements
the dental patient twisted nervously in the chair
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6
as in weaves
to cause to twine about one another
has the habit of idly twisting the strands of her hair while daydreaming
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of twists
Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
To say much more would spoil the play’s twists.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
Where Game of Thrones the HBO series was a fantasy juggernaut with sweeping shots of warrior hordes and big twists, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is told from a single viewpoint as Sir Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg wander through Westeros while the Targaryen dynasty rules the Iron Throne.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 12 Jan. 2026
Acting races delivered their own twists.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 12 Jan. 2026
And that French influence extends to the cocktails, too, with the spot serving fun twists on the French 75, the Sazerac, and more.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 11 Jan. 2026
The solution that might have come to your mind along the way will have slipped it by the time the show, with more twists than a complete set of Chubby Checker LPs, gets around to confirming it.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Behind the Winchesters’ closed doors lies a world of shocking twists that will leave you guessing until the very end.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
Then again, few people have careers with as many twists as American figure skater Alysa Liu.
—Sharyn Alfonsi, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 25 Dec. 2025
Florida State University researchers have engineered a crystalline material that twists magnetism into swirling patterns, a discovery that could push the boundaries of data storage, energy-efficient electronics, and future quantum technologies.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Dec. 2025
Erivo, as Elphaba, remains the film’s moral core, her voice steady even as the world twists her narrative beyond recognition.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 19 Nov. 2025
What starts as an ordinary connection slowly twists into something far more dangerous, dragging Aggie into a mess of secrets and bloodshed.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Nov. 2025
Brightburn also twists the family dynamic to expose a parent's worst fear, that their power and authority over their children is completely illusory.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Still, there’s something unsettling about a creature with an on-off button and a spine that twists under your fingers.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
Garments construction enhances the story—from wave seams adding a sense of fluidity to structures to knots and twists altering shapes.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 21 Oct. 2025
As their relationship twists into abuse and control, Darya makes a daring escape — only to discover Sam has ordered her death.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
The telenovella follows a woman who is about to get married, while also being in love with another man, and includes several plot twists, cleverly woven intermingled with scenes of the country’s landmark destinations and informative safety instructions for flight passengers.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
To say much more would spoil the play’s twists.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
Where Game of Thrones the HBO series was a fantasy juggernaut with sweeping shots of warrior hordes and big twists, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is told from a single viewpoint as Sir Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg wander through Westeros while the Targaryen dynasty rules the Iron Throne.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 12 Jan. 2026
Acting races delivered their own twists.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 12 Jan. 2026
And that French influence extends to the cocktails, too, with the spot serving fun twists on the French 75, the Sazerac, and more.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 11 Jan. 2026
The solution that might have come to your mind along the way will have slipped it by the time the show, with more twists than a complete set of Chubby Checker LPs, gets around to confirming it.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Behind the Winchesters’ closed doors lies a world of shocking twists that will leave you guessing until the very end.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
Then again, few people have careers with as many twists as American figure skater Alysa Liu.
—Sharyn Alfonsi, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Steve Zahn and Thandiwe Newton play childhood friends whose lives haven’t gone as planned, at least until Rudd’s Griff twists all their arms to finally pursue their adolescent dream of remaking 1997’s Anaconda in the Amazon rainforest.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 25 Dec. 2025
Florida State University researchers have engineered a crystalline material that twists magnetism into swirling patterns, a discovery that could push the boundaries of data storage, energy-efficient electronics, and future quantum technologies.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Dec. 2025
Erivo, as Elphaba, remains the film’s moral core, her voice steady even as the world twists her narrative beyond recognition.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 19 Nov. 2025
What starts as an ordinary connection slowly twists into something far more dangerous, dragging Aggie into a mess of secrets and bloodshed.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Nov. 2025
Brightburn also twists the family dynamic to expose a parent's worst fear, that their power and authority over their children is completely illusory.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Still, there’s something unsettling about a creature with an on-off button and a spine that twists under your fingers.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
Garments construction enhances the story—from wave seams adding a sense of fluidity to structures to knots and twists altering shapes.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 21 Oct. 2025
As their relationship twists into abuse and control, Darya makes a daring escape — only to discover Sam has ordered her death.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for twists
Noun
-
There is no one organizational system that fits every family and lifestyle, but there are some tips and tricks that help.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
10 Jan. 2026
-
So what are their go-to tricks for creating a space worth hibernating in?—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When the secretary bypasses or distorts that structure, the guidance loses its claim to legitimacy.—
Richard Hughes IV,
STAT,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Freedom from want mattered because deprivation distorts judgment.—
Philip Martin,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The creamy texture turns into foam as tweens lather the fragrance-free and non-comedogenic formula.—
Katrina Cossey,
Parents,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Made from 100 percent renewable plant fibers and agricultural waste, Savian turns nettle, flax and hemp into fur, shearling and fleece-like fabrics using proprietary technologies.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Ariana Grande pulls Teyana Taylor in for a tight squeeze after the latter won her award.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Joining Watkins for the sit-down with Deadline, Nurse John pulls back the curtain on his experience of his stratospheric rise, reflecting on the emotional impact of sudden viral visibility and the practical mechanics of turning internet attention into a sustainable live business.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When Brian and Murtagh report that Dougal offended the Grants and Colum had to promise Ellen’s hand to appease the situation, Lord Lovat squirms.—
Lincee Ray Published,
EW.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Susanne Hammel-Sawyer weaves a basket.—
Jeanette Marantos,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
-
An undercurrent of nostalgia weaves throughout his 30-year discography.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
These motorcycles were so well-built that they were even employed in both World Wars, mainly as dispatch bikes and sidecar tugs for the British armed forces.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
6 Dec. 2025
-
The first, known as the radial velocity technique, looks for slight wobbles in the star’s position, as the gravity of an orbiting exoplanet tugs it one way and then the other.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
1 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
As such, its defining characteristics are mostly tactile rather than visual.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
-
But there are other factors that needled their way into the evolutionary development of dormancy characteristics.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Twists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/twists. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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