contort

verb

con·​tort kən-ˈtȯrt 

contorted; contorting; contorts

transitive verb

: to twist in a violent manner

features contorted with fury

intransitive verb

: to twist into or as if into a strained shape or expression

His face contorted in a grimace of pain.

contortion

kən-ˈtȯr-shən 

noun

contortive

kən-ˈtȯr-tiv 

adjective

Did you know?

Circus contortionists are known for twisting their bodies into pretzels; such contortions tend to be easier for females than for males, and much easier for the young than for the old. When trying to say something uncomfortable or dishonest, people often go through verbal contortions. But when someone else "twists" something you said or did, we usually say instead that they've distorted it.

Synonyms

• deform
• distort
• misshape
• screw
• squinch
• torture
• warp

Choose the Right Synonym for contort

deform, distort, contort, warp means to mar or spoil by or as if by twisting.

deform may imply a change of shape through stress, injury, or accident of growth.

a face deformed by hatred

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

warp indicates an uneven shrinking that bends or twists out of a flat plane.

warped floorboards

Examples of contort in a Sentence

His body contorted with pain.

The boy contorted his body to squeeze through the gate.

Her face was contorted with rage.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Biden administration has spent the last several months contorting itself into logical pretzels to communicate to observers that its post-10/7 dalliance with the Israeli government has come to an end. —Noah Rothman, National Review, 22 May 2024

At least his hair, practically a standalone performer in its own right, puts on a pyrotechnic display of thespian skill, contorting itself into all manner of tonsorial shapes as Limonov evolves from thug to hipster to skinhead superhero. —Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 May 2024

But while these species all possess muscles that could likely contort their melons in various ways, per the paper, the beluga is the only one that scientists have seen using this behavior. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 May 2024

Known for her playful routines, Baker could twist and turn, contorting her body, Asleson says. —Angelica Aboulhosn, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 May 2024

Beluga whales appear to communicate with each other by contorting their heads into various shapes, new research reveals. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 2 May 2024

The funniest moments involved physical humor: Glen Powell shooting his tongue out like a lizard; Sydney Sweeney contorting herself like Catherine Zeta-Jones in Entrapment while stealing his airplane cookie; a beefcake surfer swimming with the zeal of an unhinged dolphin. —Erin Carlson, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Apr. 2024

In some cases, supporting farmers has required contorting their positions. —Emily Rauhala, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024

Photos of Kelce’s red face, contorted in anger, sprouted on social media. —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 12 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin contortus, past participle of contorquēre, from com- + torquēre to twist — more at torture entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

contort

verb

con·​tort kən-ˈtȯ(ə)rt 

: to twist into an unusual appearance or unnatural shape