contortive

American

[kuhn-tawr-tiv] / kənˈtɔr tɪv /

adjective

characterized by, tending toward, or causing contortions or twisting.

contortive movements; contortive pain; contortive alleyways.

Other Word Forms

contortively adverb
uncontortive adjective

Etymology

Origin of contortive

First recorded in 1855–60; contort + -ive

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.

Everything is bigger, faster, higher; training draws on hi-tech sports science, and they must master not only the exactitudes of classical technique, but be versatile enough to perform the most contortive contemporary moves.

From The Guardian

The rest of the movie deals with the contortive lengths Cosby and Poitier go to to retrieve Poitier's wallet, which contains, as it turns out, a winning raffle ticket.

From Time Magazine Archive

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023