warp 1 of 2

noun

ˈwȯrp How to pronounce warp (audio)
Definition of warpnext
as in basis
an immaterial thing upon which something else rests an unshakable belief in the essential goodness of humankind is the warp of his philosophy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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warp

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to distort
to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of the faulty English translation really warps the meaning of the original Russian text

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to degrade
to lower in character, dignity, or quality claims that violent movies warp the values of our young people

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to deform
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition freezing warped the plastic, and now the cover won't fit

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb warp contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of warp are contort, deform, and distort. While all these words mean "to mar or spoil by or as if by twisting," warp indicates an uneven shrinking that bends or twists out of a flat plane.

warped floorboards

When could deform be used to replace warp?

The synonyms deform and warp are sometimes interchangeable, but deform may imply a change of shape through stress, injury, or accident of growth.

a face deformed by hatred

How do distort and contort relate to one another, in the sense of warp?

Distort and contort both imply a wrenching from the natural or normal, but contort suggests a more involved twisting and a more grotesque and painful result.

the odd camera angle distorts the figure
disease had contorted her body

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 warp
Noun
Twenty-five years building traceable supply chains for Cartier, Chopard, and Tiffany taught Carter how that margin pressure warps behavior downstream. — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2026 Gerrymandering warps the balance of minority and majority rights. — Dallas Morning News, Twin Cities, 1 May 2026
Verb
Luna is powdery and light, with orange blossom, jasmine and cooling fir balsam, all warped in a delicate rose. — Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 27 June 2026 Yet this thing warps decisions at every level, quietly pulling good companies toward mediocrity and worse. — Kyle Westaway, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for warp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warp
  1. basis
  2. distort
  3. degrade
  4. deform
  5. foundation
  6. misrepresent
  7. deteriorate
  8. screw
Noun
  • Dominic Canzone and Randy Arozarena walked to load the bases with one out before Josh Naylor struck out swinging.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) evaluates transgender student participation on a case-by-case basis, generally supporting inclusion while lacking a statewide legislative ban.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of basis
Verb
  • Slow-motion replays and still images distort the offending player’s actions, with innocuous tackles looking more serious.
    — Tom Bogert, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • Any whack job with a phone can distort reality, and that’s not helpful.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
Definition of distort
Verb
  • When temperatures rise, heat can quietly degrade pantry staples, making refrigeration essential to preserve quality and flavor.
    — Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 1 July 2026
  • If leaders are not present and actively developing people, the system degrades—quietly at first, then all at once.
    — Brian Coyne, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of degrade
Verb
  • When oil wells are shut in, the pressure underground can become imbalanced, deforming the underlying structure.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 24 June 2026
  • Some cells were mechanically deformed to simulate incidents such as minor parking impacts.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 June 2026
Definition of deform
Noun
  • The foundation helped raise more than $200,000 to pay off school lunch debt for students, gave out turkeys to families during the holidays and provided resources to those impacted by gun violence.
    — Tyler Quattrin, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026
  • The actor says the group of actors, led by Elle Woods herself, Lexi Minetree, developed a solid foundation with each other and in themselves filming the next season before the first had aired.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026
Definition of foundation
Verb
  • Alumni contend the investigation is politically motivated and misrepresents the law, aiming to undermine Yale's commitment to diversity.
    — Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • While there is certainly a problem with the ubiquity of politicians and business leaders of advanced age, Moyn misrepresents older people and offers solutions that are discriminatory against them.
    — Peter Gosselin, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Definition of misrepresent
Verb
  • They can also be used for de-aging characters, creating performances in different languages, or preserving the voice or likeness of an actor whose health is deteriorating, as was the case with CAA client Eric Dane.
    — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 6 July 2026
  • Though concrete is a durable surface, concrete driveway repair is needed when the surface deteriorates and develops cracks over the years.
    — Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2026
Definition of deteriorate
Verb
  • The breeze was screwing with the sound system, and the temperature dropped abruptly.
    — Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 26 June 2026
  • Either Cody or Gunther wins because Sami gets screwed; Zayn will then further descend into madness and attack someone after the bell.
    — Darren Cooper, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Definition of screw

Phrases Containing warp

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warns
warp
war paint
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Cite this Entry

“Warp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warp. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on warp

Nglish: Translation of warp for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about warp

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