Definition of deformationnext
as in distortion
the twisting of something out of its natural or normal shape or condition the catastrophic deformation of the steel girders under the enormous weight of the bridge

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deformation This enables the diaphragm to maintain accurate piston motion, reduce unwanted deformation and suppress residual vibration after the signal stops. Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 The European Space Agency is also using Sentinel-1 data to map ground deformation caused by the earthquakes. Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 29 June 2026 Here on Earth, structural engineers routinely design typical building systems to yield, crack, and sustain permanent inelastic deformation during a design-level seismic event. Leonard David, Space.com, 20 June 2026 An independent 2018 analysis from Car and Driver compared Volvo models made between 1999–2006 with those made between 2007–2015, and found that the newer models had a 36 percent reduction in windshield deformation following collisions. Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for deformation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deformation
Noun
  • That's about the legacy of slavery and the monuments commemorating the Confederacy and slave holders and the distortions of history.
    Terry Gross, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026
  • By 2019, the final year before pandemic distortion, that figure had fallen by more than half.
    Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Fetuses of mice suddenly exposed to QACs developed deformities and neural tube defects similar to spina bifida in humans.
    Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • In January, researchers at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine published a study analyzing three dogs from the same litter with varying degrees of deformity.
    Greta Cross, USA Today, 31 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Deformation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deformation. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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