warp 1 of 2

Definition of warpnext

warp

2 of 2

verb

1
2
3
as in to deform
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition freezing warped the plastic, and now the cover won't fit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb warp contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of warp are contort, deform, and distort. While all these words mean "to mar or spoil by or as if by twisting," warp indicates an uneven shrinking that bends or twists out of a flat plane.

warped floorboards

When could deform be used to replace warp?

The synonyms deform and warp are sometimes interchangeable, but deform may imply a change of shape through stress, injury, or accident of growth.

a face deformed by hatred

How do distort and contort relate to one another, in the sense of warp?

Distort and contort both imply a wrenching from the natural or normal, but contort suggests a more involved twisting and a more grotesque and painful result.

the odd camera angle distorts the figure
disease had contorted her body

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 warp
Noun
Plastic wrap that's safe to use in the microwave is formulated to tolerate heat without melting or breaking down, while those that aren't may melt, warp, or leach chemicals into your dishes. Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026 When one attempts to selectively remove weft threads, tugging and pulling them away from neighboring strands as well as the warp around which they are woven, the integrity of the fabric is breached. Scott Santarosa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
For wood, use a lightly damp mop — not soaking wet — to avoid warping or water damage. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2026 As Yasmin navigates her relationship with tech founder Sir Henry Muck (Harington) and Harper is pulled into the orbit of enigmatic executive Whitney Halberstram (Max Minghella), their twisted friendship begins to warp and ignite under the pressure of money, power, and the desire to be on top. Denise Petski, Deadline, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for warp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warp
Noun
  • Littell loaded the bases with one out in the fourth.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Rambus reported a first-quarter operating margin of 42%, on an adjusted basis, which was lower than the 46% reported in the year-ago period.
    Sarah Min, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The synthesis process consists of mixing bismuth ferrite with barium titanate to carefully engineer a strain, then growing the mixture as a thin film on a substrate that distorts its crystal structure.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 29 Apr. 2026
  • But in doing that, that distorts the economics for all patients everywhere.
    Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Some mineral sunscreen manufacturers add UV filters such as butyloctyl salicylic acid and ethylhexyl methoxycrylene to prevent SPF levels from degrading in zinc oxide, which Downs has linked to potential cancer risks and coral toxicity.
    ABC News, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Even certain nonstick surfaces can degrade over time.
    Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Back in Egypt, however, a freak plane crash uncovers a mysterious tomb that authorities open to find Katie: deformed, malnourished and ghostly-pale, but still miraculously alive.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Kinks are critical in determining where a material deforms, appearing in situations such as metals bending permanently or DNA strands separating.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • When your foundation feels steady, everything else begins to move forward with more ease.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026
  • Life forms of increasing complexity filled the seas, providing the evolutionary foundations for nearly every phylum alive today.
    Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • The authors, not content to simply defend their viewpoint, misrepresent our organization’s positions on the range of harms that children in DCFS custody experience.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
  • California’s consumer protection and false advertising laws also forbid misrepresenting goods or services.
    Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • But the consequences of a destabilized Mali, compounded by the wider fallout from the Iran war, are unlikely to stop at its borders and threatens to deepen a deteriorating security crisis across one of the world’s most volatile regions.
    Ulf Laessing, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026
  • The mammal’s health deteriorated as it became repeatedly stranded in shallow waters, and unsuccessful efforts to coax it toward deeper seas were livestreamed across the globe.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • If Miranda Priestly can get thrown in steerage, we’re all screwed.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
  • But that doesn’t mean working people aren’t getting screwed.
    Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Warp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warp. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

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