contortion

[ kuhn-tawr-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or process of contorting.
2. the state of being contorted. contorted.
3. a contorted contorted position.
4. something contorted contorted or twisted, as in position or meaning:

   His account of the incident was a complete contortion of fact.

contortion

/ kənˈtɔːʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of contorting or the state of being contorted
2. a twisted shape or position
3. something twisted or out of the ordinary in character, meaning, etc

   mental contortions

Derived Forms

• conˈtortioned, adjective
• conˈtortional, adjective

Other Words From

• con·tortion·al adjective
• con·tortioned adjective
• uncon·tortioned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of contortion¹

1605–15; < Latin contortiōn- (stem of contortiō ) a whirling around. See contort, -ion

Example Sentences

After all, marketers are managing campaigns at a time when the support systems for their ads are going through all kinds of contortions.

From Digiday

The practice of gerrymandering manipulates electoral districts to favor one party over another, which is how you wind up with such strange contortions and thin, snaking appendages on legislative maps.

From Outside Online

A ball-handler who can pull up for three, a stretch big man or even both simultaneously can force contortions away from the Jazz’s preferred drop-big defense.

From FiveThirtyEight

“His pained contortions were a photographer’s delight,” Neil Amdur wrote in the New York Times.

From Washington Post

After the contortions of modified and shrunk-down Thanksgivings, it’s exciting to bake something meant for sharing.

From Eater

For Republicans, it is a particularly hypocritical contortion.

From The Daily Beast

"You are very complimentary," said her strange suitor, with a contortion of the lip that was a cross between a grin and a sneer.

From Project Gutenberg

Then a sudden hissing contortion whipped over the widening waters.

From Project Gutenberg

The same moment he saw that, although not dead drunk, she could by no tropical contortion be said to be sober.

From Project Gutenberg

I never imagined that this fearful Asiatic creed could smite or sting an otherwise wholesome soul into such a contortion.

From Project Gutenberg

His pallor, the contortion of his features, the fear portrayed upon them, disclosed the anxiety of his mind.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• deformation
• deformity