contortive

[ kuhn-tawr-tiv ]

adjective

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

   contortive movements; contortive pain; contortive alleyways.

Other Words From

• con·tortive·ly adverb
• uncon·tortive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of contortive¹

First recorded in 1855–60; contort + -ive

Example Sentences

Everything is bigger, faster, higher; training draws on hi-tech sports science, and they must master not only the exactitudes of classical technique, but be versatile enough to perform the most contortive contemporary moves.

From The Guardian

Based on Christopher Hampton's play, significantly entitled The Talking Cure, this dramatises the birth of psychoanalysis as a tense three-way relationship between Freud, Jung and patient-turned-lover Sabina Spielrein, whose contortive hysterics fire the attentions of both doctors.

From The Guardian

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