contorted

[kuh n-tawr-tid]

See more synonyms for contorted on Thesaurus.com

adjective

twisted in a violent manner; distorted.
twisted back on itself; convoluted.

Origin of contorted

First recorded in 1615–25; contort + -ed²

Related formscon·tort·ed·ly, adverbcon·tort·ed·ness, nounin·ter·con·tort·ed, adjectiveun·con·tort·ed, adjectiveun·con·tort·ed·ly, adverb

contort

[kuh n-tawrt]

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.

Origin of contort

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for contorted

writhe, deform, convolute, torture, curve, warp, twist, wrench, knot, wind, bend, gnarl, misshape

Examples from the Web for contorted

Contemporary Examples of contorted

The Hipgnosis founders took a quick look at the strangely-lit photos of contorted bodies….
The Golden Age of Rock Album Covers
Ted Gioia
December 5, 2014
But then, with their contorted physiques and feral grimaces they speak directly to the Basquiats.
The Art World’s New Gang War
Anthony Haden-Guest
May 1, 2014
It was sobering: the desperate denial, the contorted excuses.
Why the South Loves Guns
David Sessions
December 16, 2012
Students moaned and grunted as they contorted their bodies into a succession of poses.
Hilaria Thomas, Yoga Instructor (and the Next Mrs. Alec Baldwin)
Lizzie Crocker
May 22, 2012
She was our witness, and the rules were contorted to keep her from testifying.
Sandra Fluke Wanted to Speak Up for Women Before Congress
Matthew DeLuca
February 20, 2012

Historical Examples of contorted

The pink plump face was contorted in a furtive grimace of deprecation.
The Black Bag
Louis Joseph Vance
The balloons were strained, contorted out of all proportion in their eagerness.
Life Sentence
James McConnell
I had expected to see it discomposed, contorted, despairing.
Falk
Joseph Conrad
His face was contorted with devilish triumph, and I knew he meant to kill.
The Trail of '98
Robert W. Service
Foliage should always be studied at its prime, never when it is dried and contorted in its forms.
Wood-Carving
George Jack

British Dictionary definitions for contorted

contorted

adjective

twisted out of shape
(esp of petals and sepals in a bud) twisted so that they overlap on one side

Derived Formscontortedly, adverbcontortedness, noun

contort

verb

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

Derived Formscontortive, 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

Word Origin and History for contorted

contort

early 15c., from Latin contortus, past participle of contorquere "to whirl, twist together," from com- "together" or intensive (see com-) + torquere "to twist" (see thwart). Related: Contorted; contorting.