twist 1 of 2

noun

Definition of twistnext
1
as in twisting
a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something with a forceful twist she loosened the bolt

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2
as in trick
an odd or peculiar habit my roommate has his little twists, and I have mine, so things should balance out

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twist

2 of 2

verb

ˈtwist How to pronounce twist (audio)
1
as in to distort
to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of my enemies will twist my words, but you'll only hear the truth out of me

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2
as in to curl
to follow a circular or spiral course the path gently twisted down the hill

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3
as in to spin
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis twisted my wrist around to stretch it

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4
as in to pull
to move by or as if by a forceful rotation kept twisting the cap until it came free

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5
as in to twitch
to make jerky or restless movements the dental patient twisted nervously in the chair

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6
as in to weave
to cause to twine about one another has the habit of idly twisting the strands of her hair while daydreaming

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Example Sentences

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 twist
Noun
Texas barbecue is typically defined by salt-and-pepper brisket and pork ribs, but this new crop of halal pitmasters are adding inventive twists, often based on their own family heritages. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026 Players voluntarily asking out of NFL deals to return to college would be unprecedented, and the latest twist in the NCAA’s ongoing legal battles and enforcement challenges. — Justin Williams, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
Olivia Miles twisted her left ankle in the fourth quarter of the Minnesota Lynx’s 77-66 win against the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday night. — Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 However, the inner (dentine) layer of these building blocks twist to the right, while the outer (cementum) layer twists left. — New Atlas, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for twist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for twist
  1. tug
  2. trick
  3. distort
  4. curl
  5. spin
  6. pull
  7. twitch
  8. weave
Noun
  • If your toddler stubbornly digs their heels in, don’t allow yourself to be drawn into a potty training tug of war.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Uniforms that sprouts porcupine quills at the tug of a collar?
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of tug
Noun
  • Messi was instrumental in Argentina’s route to the final, opening his World Cup with a hat-trick against Algeria and scoring in each of his team’s matches up to and including the round of 16.
    — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The key manufacturing trick was direct ink writing, a form of 3D printing.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of trick
Verb
  • Huber noted the statistic about the 150,000 annual deaths due to climate change came from a World Health Organization publication and that the edit distorted the message of the sentence.
    — Jessica Meszaros, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
  • If someone offers $25,000 for a domain that could be worth $250,000 to the right end user, the number itself can distort the negotiation.
    — Michael Gargiulo, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of distort
Verb
  • Mosses and lichens filled the hollows, while yellowish dead man’s fingers — a spooky and thus aptly named fungus — curled among low-growing rhododendrons that perfumed the air with warm, woody notes.
    — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Beyond its championship golf courses, guests can play tennis and pickleball, take a hot yoga class, go cross-country skiing, or even try curling.
    — Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of curl
Verb
  • That was a move partly instigated to develop a new crop of fast bowlers, but a home series defeat to Bangladesh two years ago and the loss of the first Test to England in October 2024 prompted the PCB to switch to spin-friendly tracks.
    — Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • His approach, and the propaganda machine that has spun it as a law-and-order success story, has turned Bukele into an international figure, and cast leaders like Petro and Cepeda, who helped design Petro’s strategy, as soft on crime.
    — Daniel Castro, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of spin
Verb
  • The Moon enters Sagittarius and your 4th House of Home, Family, and Emotional Roots, pulling your focus toward rest, privacy, space, or household needs.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026
  • With a steam engine, the boat pulled heavy cargo between Budapest and other towns along the Danube.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of pull
Verb
  • The 5-11, 210-pounder is a sudden cutter who runs with power and twitch, attacking space like a great punt returner.
    — Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The muscles in Lola Petticrew’s face twitch ever so slightly, indicating Catherine’s excitement that the police are now in possession of this picture.
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of twitch
Verb
  • This film weaves that footage with new images of his exile, a poetic documentary essay that refuses the urgency of breaking news.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Colman’s upcoming Wicker film, in which her fisherwoman character asks Peter Dinklage’s basketmaker to weave her a husband, garnered buzz after the trailer — teasing Alexander Skarsgård’s straw transformation — was released at the end of July.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of weave

Phrases Containing twist

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twirls
twist
twisted
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Cite this Entry

“Twist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/twist. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on twist

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about twist

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