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contortive

American  
[kuhn-tawr-tiv] / kənˈtɔr tɪv /

adjective

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

    contortive movements; contortive pain; contortive alleyways.

Other Word Forms

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.

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.