TWISTS Synonyms: 225 Similar and Opposite Words

twists 1 of 2

noun

plural of twist

as in twistings

a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something with a forceful twist she loosened the bolt

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Relevance

as in tricks

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

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conformities

twists

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of twist

as in distorts

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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as in curls

to follow a circular or spiral course the path gently twisted down the hill

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straightens

as in turns

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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as in pulls

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

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as in squirms

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

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as in weaves

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 twists

Noun

The long, glacial structure’s facade tightens, bends and twists. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 The scripts are hilarious, full of twists and a lot of heart. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026 There are a couple of shocking narrative twists at the end, with Alice potentially unleashing her wrath, and the revelation of Catherine’s role in Isabel’s death. — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 31 Aug. 2026 This season’s palette goes beyond the usual autumn suspects, giving familiar favorites new life through unexpected undertones, rich finishes, and nuanced twists. — Jennifer Hussein, InStyle, 28 Aug. 2026 The 2-on-2 drills featured defensive lineman doing twists, which is something that’s troubled the offensive line in both joint practices and preseason games. — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026 L’Oréal, the parent company of Redken and Kérastase, developed a curl classification system from a study across 22 countries, studying curl radius, shrinkage ratio, and the number of twists on a hair fiber. — Ava Welsing-Kitcher, Allure, 24 Aug. 2026 Her phone contains a seemingly endless note filled with twists on familiar phrases. — Bryan West, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026 Rachel Gillig has a knack for raising the emotional and fantastical stakes, so expect devastating twists, unforgettable tension and a sequel that’s impossible to put down. — Elizabeth Wellington Rollins, PEOPLE, 23 Aug. 2026

Verb

As our journey continues, the road twists through apocalyptic terrain until, out of nowhere, life reappears. — Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026 As the action alternates between Lotte’s adventure and Emil’s childhood in the former Yugoslavia, twists abound. — Monitor Reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2026 West Cliff Drive is a road that twists and curves along Santa Cruz’s coastline, with dramatic cliffs and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, SFGate previously reported. — David Chiu, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026 Throughout the special, Scovel repeatedly invites his viewers to see his act in one way, twists the material back on itself, and then mock-angrily confronts the crowd for their inappropriate reaction. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026 But some of what twists in Season 3 is the soundscape, which Condal wanted to have a slightly different, more unstable character. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026 Instead, its body twists and its legs kick as someone reaches toward it. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026 Always have a backup plan in case the child is not into it, twists an ankle or has a meltdown. — Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 Alicia Keys has made braids, cornrows, and twists a signature part of her evolving beauty look throughout her career. — Sunnah Rasheed, InStyle, 23 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for twists

Noun

The European Investment Bank (EIB) estimates that roughly 200 wrecks, including warships, barges, tugs, and cargo vessels, remain scattered across a five-kilometer stretch of the river near Prahovo.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026
Momentus’ spacecraft can also serve as space tugs to ferry smaller satellites or experiments from one orbit to another.

— Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 July 2026

Definition of tugs

Noun

Some of his bar inventions, for instance, were less grand thematic ideas and simply tricks to keep patrons indoors and ordering.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Treister had a smart sense of humor, often performing magic tricks for anyone who would come over to his home, his family said.

— Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of tricks

Verb

Because of its large field of view, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will help researchers better understand dark matter by capturing how the phenomenon's gravity bends light and distorts a galaxy's shape.

— Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Saliva collects at the mouthpiece and distorts the notes, making the blasts sound hoarse and off-pitch.

— Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of distorts

Verb

The policy semantics and how a mandate propagates once delegation turns multi-hop, machine-initiated and cross-organizational remain implementation problems.

— Dr. Aditya Vikram Kashyap, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Killceañera, which turns a quinceañera into an event in which a teen takes revenge on her bullies, will feature an outdoor performer lip-syncing a song co-written by Murdy and Slash from a balcony.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of turns

Verb

Studios build best picture runs around a face and a narrative, and Focus is betting that a breakout turn is the engine that pulls the rest of the slate into the race.

— Clayton Davis, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
One of these women is a Stanford chemist whose fertilizer pulls carbon out of the sky.

— Lisa Curtis, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of pulls

Verb

The 420 Sport jostles and squirms on these surfaces at low speeds, but the payoff is unfiltered, no-nonsense feedback.

— Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 22 July 2026
When Brian and Murtagh report that Dougal offended the Grants and Colum had to promise Ellen’s hand to appease the situation, Lord Lovat squirms.

— Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Definition of squirms

Verb

The documentary around that single day and single game also weaves into the account of Curry’s on-court artistry the thoughts of other innovative artists like Viola Davis, Rick Rubin, Patti Smith, and Jon Batiste.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026
The boyfriend, a British DJ named James Kennedy, who had been playing a clunky set in the background, weaves over to the women, sweaty and frazzled.

— Sylvia Varnham O’Regan, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026