deform

verb

de·​form di-ˈfȯrm 

dē-

deformed; deforming; deforms

transitive verb

1

: to spoil the form of

2

a

: to spoil the looks of : disfigure

a face deformed by bitterness

b

: to mar the character of

a marriage deformed by jealousy

3

: to alter the shape of by stress

intransitive verb

: to become misshapen or changed in shape

deformable

di-ˈfȯr-mə-bəl 

dē-

adjective

Synonyms

• contort
• distort
• misshape
• screw
• squinch
• torture
• warp

Choose the Right Synonym for deform

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 deform in a Sentence

The disease eventually deforms the bones.

The disease eventually causes the bones to deform.

Recent Examples on the Web

Researchers have developed a Particle-armored liquid robot (PB), a liquid-particle composite capable of deforming, engulfing, and merging without losing its structure. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 21 Mar. 2025

The elements were slowly crushing the base as the gradual movement of the ice sheet deformed the structures. —Katie Hunt, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025

Vincent attempts through various means to convince people of this infiltration of aliens who appear as normal humans except for their emotionless personalities and deformed little fingers on their hands. —Jeff Spry, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2025

But the new system has come with frustrations, as some residents have complained of long wait times for the carts — some of which are deformed once they are delivered. —Elliott Wenzler, The Denver Post, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French desfurmer, from Latin deformare, from de- + formare to form, from forma form

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for deform

• brainstorm
• conform
• firestorm
• hailstorm
• inform
• landform
• lukewarm
• perform
• planform
• platform
• preform
• rainstorm

Kids Definition

deform

verb

de·​form di-ˈfȯ(ə)rm 

ˈdē-

: to make or become misshapen or changed in shape

deformation

ˌdē-ˌfȯr-ˈmā-shən

ˌdef-ər-

noun