contorted; contorting; contorts
: to twist in a violent manner
features contorted with fury
: to twist into or as if into a strained shape or expression
His face contorted in a grimace of pain.
Did you know?
Circus contortionists are known for twisting their bodies into pretzels; such contortions tend to be easier for females than for males, and much easier for the young than for the old. When trying to say something uncomfortable or dishonest, people often go through verbal contortions. But when someone else "twists" something you said or did, we usually say instead that they've distorted it.
Examples of contort in a Sentence
His body contorted with pain.
The boy contorted his body to squeeze through the gate.
Her face was contorted with rage.
Recent Examples on the Web
The system's extra size also allows for Joy-Cons that are expanded just enough to be much better suited for adult hands, with much less need for grown-ups to contort into a claw-like grip just to get a solid hold.
—
ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2025
Nearly a century and a half later spoke, hordes of corporate lobbyists still seek to contort the tariff schedule every which way for their respective employers’ narrow benefit.
—David B. McGarry, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2025
But the defense really stepped up along the perimeter, contorting a highly efficient Tritons offense into unsightly shooting (23.3 percent from 3-point range, 38.7 percent overall).
—Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 22 Mar. 2025
There are lots of strange actors currently who contort and modulate their bodies and looks by appealing to their distinctive features.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contort
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ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2025
Nearly a century and a half later spoke, hordes of corporate lobbyists still seek to contort the tariff schedule every which way for their respective employers’ narrow benefit.
—David B. McGarry, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2025
But the defense really stepped up along the perimeter, contorting a highly efficient Tritons offense into unsightly shooting (23.3 percent from 3-point range, 38.7 percent overall).
—Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 22 Mar. 2025
There are lots of strange actors currently who contort and modulate their bodies and looks by appealing to their distinctive features.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contort
Cite this Entry
“Contort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contort. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
contort
verb
con·tort
kən-ˈtȯ(ə)rt 
: to twist into an unusual appearance or unnatural shape
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