contort
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of contort
1555–65; < Latin contortus twisted together, past participle of contorquēre. See con-, tort
Explanation
To contort something is to bend or twist it out of its original shape. Faces are often said to contort with one particular emotion or another. In general contort refers to something that is fairly adaptable and can return to its previous shape. A face, after it has contorted with rage, for example, will return to its normal expression (unless you've done something really bad.). If you bend or twist your sister's doll, you "break it" rather than "contort it."
Vocabulary lists containing contort
Of Mice and Men
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Twists and Turns: Tor
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A Long Way Gone
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Contort yourself in myriad compromising positions, but, ultimately, emerge unharmed and unscathed.
From Washington Post • Dec. 3, 2017
Her scything guitar can be heard on the still-abrasive Contort Yourself.
From The Guardian • Apr. 1, 2016
Contort Yourself welds atonal, freeform jazz to a funky rhythm that'd be tight enough for James Brown.
From The Guardian • Feb. 10, 2011
Contort = to twist, bend, draw out of shape.
From New York Times • Feb. 4, 2011
Contort, kon-tort′, v.t. to twist or turn violently: to writhe.—adj.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
