twisted

American

[twis-tid] / ˈtwɪs tɪd /

adjective

interwoven or combined by winding together, as strands or threads; formed in this way.

It was Roebling who invented the twisted wire cable used in bridge supports.
altered in shape by turning the ends in opposite directions, forming a spiral.

To remove an object from inside the lower eyelid, wet the end of a twisted piece of tissue and touch it to the object.
turned sharply or wrenched out of place; injured in this way.

I hadn't touched a skateboard in almost a year because of a twisted ankle.
(of a person’s features) distorted or contorted by tensing or contracting the facial muscles.

He made a twisted face as he bent down to look at the disgusting mess.
(of words) having the meaning distorted or perverted.

It is a sad day when outright lies and twisted words triumph over truth.
mentally or emotionally distorted; warped.

It's perverse logic, but it explains how someone with a twisted mind can have a clear conscience.
tortuously bent out of shape.

The twisted steel wreckage of the sunken ship can be seen in this sonar image.
taking a winding, curving, or bending course.

Twisted vines curl, bend, and overlap while growing side by side.
It's by a long and twisted path that I've been led to this moment.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of twist.

Other Word Forms

twistedly

adverb

Etymology

Origin of twisted

twist ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

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.

In the city centre, near the Mediterranean waterfront, I met a man called Rida Hijazi as a bulldozer removed broken concrete and twisted metal from collapsed buildings.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

I don’t know any woman who doesn’t live some version of this life, locked in a sentimental, twisted waltz with the difficult woman who raised her.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

As these things go, the adjective’s chosen definition soon twisted shape.

From Salon • May 10, 2026

"I was simply transported," he said ahead of his centenary, reliving how the adult female twisted his head and looked straight into his eyes and her two youngsters sat on him as the cameras rolled.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

I felt nervous, and my stomach got all twisted in knots when I remembered it.

From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott

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