contort

[ kuhn-tawrt ]

/ kənˈtɔrt /

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See synonyms for: contort / contorted on Thesaurus.com

Definition of contort

verb (used with object)

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

verb (used without object)

to become twisted, distorted, or strained: His face contorted into a grotesque sneer.

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Origin of contort

1555–65; <Latin contortus twisted together, past participle of contorquēre.See con-, tort

Words nearby contort

continuous welded rail, continuum, continuum hypothesis, conto, contoid, contort, contorted, contortion, contortionist, contortive, contour

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use contort in a sentence

You trust that you’re going to be able to show up authentically as yourself and not have to kind of contort yourself in order to partner with that brand.
Platforms roll out tipping features, vying for user engagement and ad dollars|Kimeko McCoy|June 9, 2021|Digiday
The game is constantly at odds with itself as it transitions from first-person to third-person, because the character you control behind the camera is a pretzel-version of a human body, contorted to fit to player movements.
‘Cyberpunk 2077,’ three months later|Gene Park|March 12, 2021|Washington Post
You would think that this would really contort the DNA in an awful shape, but it actually flows very naturally.
Archaea microbes fold, twist and contort their DNA in extreme ways|Emiliano Rodríguez Mega|March 11, 2021|Science News
Archaea microbes might instead simply be contorting their DNA to turn genes on and off –– allowing proteins to “read” the genes when the Slinkies open, and cutting off access when they close.
Archaea microbes fold, twist and contort their DNA in extreme ways|Emiliano Rodríguez Mega|March 11, 2021|Science News

There he is contorting his face and cackling maniacally, starting to feel the “side effects” of quarantine.
Anthony Hopkins is welcoming old age by embracing his inner child|Tim Greiving|February 25, 2021|Washington Post
Adèle and Emma contort themselves into a plethora of sexual positions.
The 10 Best Movie Sex Scenes of 2013: ‘Blue Is the Warmest Color,’ ‘Spring Breakers,’ and More|Marlow Stern|December 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
There will be side deals and efforts to contort platforms to draw new votes that make predictions hazardous.
France's Socialist Comeback?|Tracy McNicoll|October 10, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Andy walked around in the middle of the corral, quite aimlessly, and watched the roan contort.
The Happy Family|Bertha Muzzy Bower
The acrobats contort themselves into the shapes of letters upon the screen before the children's eyes.
Practical Cinematography and Its Applications|Frederick Arthur Ambrose Talbot
Field could contort his face into a thunder-cloud which could send children almost into convulsions of fear.
Eugene Field, A Study In Heredity And Contradictions|Slason Thompson
When the boat hit a few waves, the lumpy canvas would contort and wriggle all over in anguish, uncouth muffled sounds arising.
The Beaver, Vol. 1, February, 1921, No. 5|Hudson's Bay Company
Childish bodies, glowing pure, Are made a sacrifice unto your lust, That you may see their tender limbs contort.
Such is Life|Frank Wedekind

British Dictionary definitions for contort

contort

/ (kənˈtɔːt) /

verb

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

Derived forms of contort

contortive, adjective

Word Origin for contort

C15: from Latin contortus intricate, obscure, from contorquēre to whirl around, from torquēre to twist, wrench

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

contort

Definition of contort

Origin of contort

Words nearby contort

Words related to contort

How to use contort in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for contort

Derived forms of contort

Word Origin for contort