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Synonyms

contort

American  
[kuhn-tawrt] / kənˈtɔrt /

verb (used with object)

contorts, present (3rd person singular) contorted, past participle, past contorting present participle
  1. to twist, bend, or draw out of shape; distort.


verb (used without object)

contorts, present (3rd person singular) contorted, past participle, past contorting present participle
  1. to become twisted, distorted, or strained.

    His face contorted into a grotesque sneer.

contort British  
/ kənˈtɔːt /

verb

  1. to twist or bend severely out of place or shape, esp in a strained manner

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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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."

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Vocabulary lists containing contort

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.

This is a book of endless storytelling, as characters contort themselves to please the regime’s shifting narratives.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

So there’s a couple ways he was able to contort his body, flips that he was able to do that only he was able to do.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2024

Vance “weird” is rather effective, and has caused Vance and his party-mates to contort themselves to prove he’s not, in fact, weird.

From Slate • Aug. 8, 2024

This braced leg then acted as a pivot for the rest of his body to contort over with his bowling arm up high in his unique 'beyond the perpendicular' style.

From BBC • Jul. 17, 2024

The closest overhead bins are filled with roller bags, so I contort myself to shove my backpack beneath the seat in front of mine.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

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