warp 1 of 2

warp

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verb

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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
The outcome is a pleasingly mottled appearance that earns comparisons to denim, which is similarly woven with a colored warp and a white weft but is milled as a more dense and substantial twill. Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 7 July 2025 The former, with its iconic castles, characters, and warp pipe entrance, and the latter with dozens of dragons, three rides, and one amazing show do not disappoint. Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 3 June 2025
Verb
In Netflix’s Long Story Short, BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg uses the elasticity of animation to warp time, dropping in on a singular Jewish family a couple dozen times from the 1990s to 2022 (and once in 1959). Judy Berman, Time, 30 Aug. 2025 On August 8, a gunman warped by vaccine disinformation opened fire on the CDC campus. Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for warp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warp
Noun
  • However, amid the confusion of new strains, changing vaccine guidelines and cuts to vaccine development funding, the CDC continues to track cases, hospitalizations and deaths on a weekly basis.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
  • So is this a call to get your hsCRP levels checked on a regular basis?
    Sarah Garone, Health, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In a world where images are so numerous and so difficult to understand, truth itself can be in danger, threatened by false interpretations and distorted, misleading half-truths.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Executives may tone down accomplishments to avoid internal friction, which can distort messaging.
    Adrian Dearnell, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Long-term drought has degraded the old-growth forest where the squirrels live.
    John Leos, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Design for Choice, Not Chaos Present customers with multiple options, from digital wallets to local payment rails, without degrading user experience.
    Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The unmistakable signature of chilli thrips are blooms that look deformed, scorched, singed and burnt.
    Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
  • As a result, his vocals have a kind of stately yet starry-eyed quality, giving structure to these deformed, cosmic beats from the internet abyss.
    Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • And with the foundation laid, Flowers is eager for the Golden Bulls to make that next leap.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The West Virginia man set up a foundation that built two churches in his home state and gave food, clothing and scholarships to local students, according to a 2020 New York Times obituary.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The group of climate scientists found several examples where the DOE authors cherry-picked or misrepresented climate science in the agency's report.
    Julia Simon, NPR, 2 Sep. 2025
  • This statement fundamentally misrepresents how research is done.
    Brendan Harley, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The 112-year-old school building has asbestos and a deteriorating foundation.
    Erica Mosca, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
  • But when the levees failed, thousands of people were trapped inside as supplies dwindled and conditions deteriorated quickly.
    Sarah Alegre, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Waterhouse said that screw caps generally make more sense for a wine like rosé, which isn’t intended to age, while cork is the standard for aging wines.
    Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Harrison is also a fan of the hair screw tool that’s designed to pick up long strands of hair and loose pet fur with ease.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Warp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warp. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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