contorted

[kuhn-tawr-tid]

adjective

1. twisted in a violent manner; distorted.

2. twisted back on itself; convoluted.

contorted

/ kənˈtɔːtɪd /

adjective

1. twisted out of shape

2. (esp of petals and sepals in a bud) twisted so that they overlap on one side

Other Word Forms

• contortedness noun
• contortedly adverb
• intercontorted adjective
• uncontorted adjective
• uncontortedly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of contorted¹

First recorded in 1615–25; contort + -ed ²

Example Sentences

When we see him finally being moved, he is contorted in his bed from the pain, clutching onto a sick bowl.

From BBC

The indictment detailed the torture of several prisoners, including one identified by the initials K.A.M., whose body Sheikh, prison officials and prison guards allegedly contorted on the “flying carpet” device.

From Los Angeles Times

For more than an hour, I had twisted and contorted myself trying without success to get a grip on that two-inch piece of silicone.

From Salon

“She bounded around with so many positions and backtracked and so desperately contorted ... . She is more consistent now than she was then.”

From Los Angeles Times

Not long ago I came upon a zombie-like scene of contorted people gathered in the northwest corner of the park, their bodies rigid from overdoses of fentanyl or other killer drugs.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• curved www.thesaurus.com
• curving www.thesaurus.com
• devious 
• errant 
• gnarled 
• meandering 
• serpentine 
• sinuous 
• twisted 
• twisting 
• winding