contort

American  

[kuhn-tawrt] / kənˈtɔrt /

verb (used with object)

1. to twist, bend, or draw out of shape; distort.

---

verb (used without object)

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

---

Other Word Forms

• contortive
  adjective

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."

Example Sentences

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

When it was retired last year, it was replaced with a newer, fully electric model developers said could contort its metal frame in even more ways.

From BBC • Nov. 7, 2025

He has the preternatural ability to contort his facial expressions ever so slightly, going from innocent to cold and malevolent and back again in a split second.

From Salon • Mar. 18, 2025

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

I cannot seem to contort myself back into the shape of a dutiful child.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Related Words

• deform
• writhe