contort
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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contortsimple
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contortssimple
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have contortedperfect
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has contortedperfect
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am contortingprogressive
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are contortingprogressive
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is contortingprogressive
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have been contortingperfect progressive
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has been contortingperfect progressive
Past
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contortedsimple
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had contortedperfect
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was contortingprogressive
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were contortingprogressive
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had been contortingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Mr. Ali’s attempt to contort it to reflect the controversy over immigration policy is ham-handed and confused.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 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
Ozy leaders were willing not just to fabricate numbers and forge documents, but also to contort themselves to fit into whatever distorted mold they thought would benefit the company.
From Slate • Dec. 12, 2024
In this new space, I had time to aim squarely between the moose's eyes, watching his muscles contort and his skin wrinkle as he bent to take another mouthful of grass.
From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline
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.
