deform

¹

[ dih-fawrm ]

verb (used with object)

1. to mar the natural form or shape of; put out of shape; disfigure:

   In cases where the drug was taken during pregnancy, its effects deformed the infants.

   Synonyms: misshape

2. to make ugly, ungraceful, or displeasing; mar the beauty of; spoil:

   The trees had been completely deformed by the force of the wind.

   Synonyms: ruin

3. to change the form of; transform.
4. Geology, Mechanics. to subject to deformation:

   The metal was deformed under stress.

verb (used without object)

1. to undergo deformation.

deform

²

[ dih-fawrm ]

adjective

, Archaic.

1. deformed; ugly.

deform

/ dɪˈfɔːm /

verb

1. to make or become misshapen or distorted
2. tr to mar the beauty of; disfigure
3. tr to subject or be subjected to a stress that causes a change of dimensions

Derived Forms

• deˈformable, adjective
• deˈformer, noun
• deˌformaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• de·forma·ble adjective
• de·forma·bili·ty noun
• de·forma·tive adjective
• de·former noun
• unde·forma·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of deform¹

1350–1400; Middle English deformen, from Latin dēfōrmāre, equivalent to dē- de- + fōrmāre “to shape, form” ( form )

Origin of deform²

1350–1400; Middle English defo ( u ) rme < Latin dēformis, equivalent to dē- de- + -formis -form

Word History and Origins

Origin of deform¹

C15: from Latin dēformāre, from de- + forma shape, beauty

Synonym Study

See mar.

Example Sentences

Following the surgery his arm has been left deformed and he sufferers from chronic pain.

From BBC

"It got to the point where the cysts started growing under my skin and deforming the shape of my face, so I was put through to a dermatologist," she said.

From BBC

Selt said, upon picking up his luggage having landed in Riyadh, he could see the case carrying his cue was "clearly deformed".

From BBC

Mr Rhodes was referring to a social media post on X which read: "That is his actual face which is deformed from a birthmark."

From BBC

The criminal, deformed, and the misfit, Dependent, diseased, and the rest — As we breed the human family The worst is as good as the best.

From Salon

Related Words

• contort
• impair
• maim
• mangle
• mutilate
• skew