to contort

Examples

• All

• The plastic can easily contort when exposed to heat, losing its original shape.

• At the same time, Captain Bawr spun around, her face contorted by an unearthly rage.

  Fiction book (1992)

• I saw that guy's face contort and he didn't even look human.

  Ryan Pineda

• The seizures may lock up the joints and slightly contort the body.

  The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

• His face was red and contorted with rage, and his eyes were wild.

  Fiction book (1992)

• His face contorted into a grotesque mask of disgust.

• Alex cries out in pain, her face contorted into a mask of agony and fear.

  Fiction book (1993)

• A furrowed brow, contracted cheeks, and scowling mouth contort the artist's features and suggest his great discomfort.

  Academic text (2004)

• As the dancer performed, she would often contort her body into astonishing shapes.

• His back began to contort painfully after he attempted the difficult stretch.

Synonyms

B

to bend

vsto contort

268 1.0

To make something curved instead of straight

involves violent or unnatural twisting rather than mild curving

T

to twist

vsto contort

152 2.2

To turn a joint or part of your body so it becomes injured

applies to violent unnatural bending across materials not only bodily joints

D

to distort

vsto contort

59 4.3

To change the shape of something so it is no longer normal

involves violent twisting action rather than general alteration of form

D

to deform

vsto contort

59 4.8

To change a thing's normal shape so it becomes bent or twisted

involves stronger violent or unnatural bending rather than general spoilage

R

to reshape

vsto contort

49 3.5

To change the form of something so it looks different

involves violent unnatural twisting rather than deliberate reforming of shape

W

to warp

vsto contort

26 4.9

To bend out of shape when heated or wet

happens from violent or unnatural force rather than gradual environmental stress

C

to crook

vsto contort

4 5.6

To bend a body part or small object so it curves

is used for violent unnatural twisting of many materials rather than simple body bending

S

to strain

vsto contort

• Specialized

3 4.2

To change the shape of something by putting force on it

involves specific violent twisting or bending rather than any forceful change

K

to kink

vsto contort

3 5.4

To make a rope, wire or hose bend sharply

affects whole form violently or unnaturally rather than only causing a small sharp twist

M

to misshape

vsto contort

1 6.9

To make something have the wrong form

involves active violent twisting rather than merely producing an incorrect form

G

to gnarl

vsto contort

8.6

To twist into a knotted, rough shape often in wood

is used generally for violent or unnatural twisting across many materials

C

to convolve

vsto contort

• Archaic

9.3

To twist or coil together into a spiral shape

involves violent distortion or bending out of normal shape instead of coiling

I

to incurvate

vsto contort

• Specialized

9.9

Bend inward to make a curved shape

involves violent outward or irregular twisting rather than simple inward curving

Antonyms

S

to straighten

114 2.5

Make something straight and in the right position

How Twisted

to deform

59 4.8

to contort

17 7.5

to twist

231 1.7

to bend

268 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology