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
The company’s new American Style Milk Chocolate Candy Bar with Peanut Butter and Kataifi — a twist on the viral pistachio Dubai bars — has earned quite a bit of buzz since summer. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026 In what may be a surprising twist, the journalist presents eyebrow-raising information about who helped Barbie escape Europe. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
Unlike streaming metrics, which can be twisted and touted in any which way, box office dollars are uniformly reported — meaning there’s no denying a hit (or a miss). — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 18 Oct. 2026 The researchers believe that small changes in the protein influence how cells twist during the earliest stages of embryonic development. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 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
  • Nothing about Capra is weirder, to be honest, than the way in which, from one film of his to the next, suicide tugs at our sleeve.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The tug was attacked in the Gulf of Oman, south of the narrow Strait of Hormuz, which has faced blockades and attacks in recent months.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of tug
Noun
  • Today, our constructor has reached into his evidently limitless bag of tricks to pull out a doozy of a Thursday grid.
    — Sean McGowan, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The subtle, but unmistakable, undercurrent of apple sweetness struck me as a bit of a magic trick in a bread that, otherwise, to the eye and hand was just a soft white loaf.
    — Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of trick
Verb
  • However, attaching a metal wire directly to the delicate plasma filament would distort its structure.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Americans may disagree on solutions, but many share the belief that financial incentives have distorted the system beyond recognition.
    — Scott Levenson, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of distort
Verb
  • The top layers were pulled back and away from her face, then pinned behind her ears to show off major diamond earrings, and the lengths were loosely curled.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Ten seconds into the game, Gray curled off the right wing and took a pass from teammate Jordin Canada at the top of the key.
    — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of curl
Verb
  • Once the researchers accounted for this requirement, the window for a split narrowed considerably, potentially remaining open only for black holes spinning close to their maximum possible rate.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Christopher Bell, who entered just five points behind Larson, crashed after spinning while entering the pits under green for his first pit stop on Lap 56.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of spin
Verb
  • Sellers who have the option to pull their listing off the market are generally doing so.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Many voters thank him ​for pulling Serbia from economic obscurity and orchestrating a period of sustained modernisation including new highways, railways, schools and hospitals.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of pull
Verb
  • Just then, Chee Meng’s fishing rod twitched, and the line began to run out.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
  • During the test, Linton jerked and twitched in what prosecutors described as an attempt to fake a seizure.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of twitch
Verb
  • Eller took a long pass from Aaron Ekblad just inside the blue line, weaved down the right side and ripped a wrist shot from the circle past Chicago goaltender Spencer Knight.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The Chiefs had no answer for Smith-Njigba, who bobbed and weaved his way through the defense for nine catches, 150 yards and a touchdown.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 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 28 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about twist

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