twisted

1 of 2

adjective

twist·​ed ˈtwi-stəd How to pronounce twisted (audio)
Synonyms of twistednext
: mentally or emotionally unsound or disturbed : sick
a cruel, twisted mind
And you know there will be some strange and twisted bitter man who will listen to all our messages.—Cynthia Heimel

twisted

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of twist entry 1

Synonyms of twisted

Relevance

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of twisted in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
Johansson recounted how, during one studio session, Saab picked up a single piece of black fabric and twisted, turned, and draped it into a bustier dress right on the mannequin. — Tina Isaac-Goizé, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026 The twisted tale involves a cadre of rappers and hangers-on, shootings in separate states, two deaths and various acts of betrayal. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 What happens next are the most dramatic and twisted moments of his life, as these mysterious events bring Sam face-to-face with his younger self. — Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Homes and businesses left intact after the flooding were still without electricity on Sunday, as twisted power line poles and wires lay tangled in the mud. — ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for twisted

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of twisted was circa 1890

Rhymes for twisted

See All Rhymes for twisted

Browse Nearby Words

twist drill
twisted
twisted cubic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Twisted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twisted. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All