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

• conˈtortional, adjective
• conˈtortioned, 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

But it also highlights some of the policy contortions carried out by Washington: first trying to pressure Israel and its adversaries not to escalate the war, instead urging diplomacy.

From BBC

All of those candidate contortions bring to mind a line from Hamlet: To thine own self be true.

From Los Angeles Times

Like any world-class gymnast, Jordan Chiles is familiar with contortions and flips.

From Los Angeles Times

The 30-year-old Olympian has worked on refining his style with signature head spins and body contortions while standing out among other B-boys.

From Los Angeles Times

A formidable array of policy assaults and legal contortions has consistently punished black resilience, black resolve.

From Salon

Related Words

• deformation
• deformity