EN

Synonyms for twist

  • verb
  • noun

Most common

weave braid intertwine interweave bend contort writhe crank

Synonyms by meaning

Verb

1. Twine — to join together by twining one part around another

twine, braid, weave, intertwine, interweave, entwine, lace, interlace, wreathe, raddle, intertwist, circumgyrate

2. Bend

bend, turn, contort, pretzel informal US CA, wring, warp, flex, deform

3. Writhe

writhe, squirm, wriggle, worm, wrestle dated

4. Crank — to turn the ends of something, usually thread, rope etc., in opposite directions, often using force

crank, coil, torque, convolute

Other

pervert, screw, wrench, sprain, distort, wind, wrest, curve, curl, curveball, rick, sophisticate

Noun

1. Spin

spin, twirl, whirl

2. Plait

plait, hair twist, tress

3. Gimmick

gimmick, device

Other

kink, pull, turn of events, contortion, crook, distortion, winding, gloss, construction, coup de theatre, matt UK, mat US, matte US, eddy

Antonyms

unravel, straighten, stick

All antonyms of twist →

Definitions

  1. v. 1

    To turn the ends of something, usually thread, rope etc., in opposite directions, often using force.

  2. v. 2

    To join together by twining one part around another.

  3. n. 1

    A twisting force.

  4. n. 2

    Anything twisted, or the act of twisting.

Related words

Phrases
twist of fate twist and turn hair twist twist the knife twist someone's balls gain twist gaining twist twist splice

Forms

Plural
twists → spins, twirls, whirls, plaits…
Past participle
twisted
e.g. twisted → twined, braided, weaved, intertwined…

Example sentences

  • weave Yanni uses this bark to weave traditional baskets.
  • braid To braid the rope only after the thief is caught.
  • intertwine We live in harmony, like two trees whose roots intertwine.
  • interweave Tom's works interweave science fiction and fantasy elements.
  • bend Bend over backwards for him and he still complain.
  • contort You won't believe how he can contort the meaning of 'truth'.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
twistrising
weaverising
braidrising
intertwinerising
interweaverising
bendrising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters
mat1
4 letters
turn1, wind1, pull1, matt1, spin1, rick1, bend1, lace1, worm1, flex1, coil1, warp1, curl1, eddy2
5 letters
screw1, curve1, crank1, weave1, gloss1, matte1, crook1, braid1, whirl1, twine1, wring1, twirl1, wrest1, plait1
6 letters
device2, torque1, wrench1, sprain1, squirm1, deform2, writhe1, raddle
7 letters
winding2, wrestle2, pervert2, gimmick2, distort2, pretzel2, wriggle2, contort2, entwine2, wreathe
9 letters
curveball, interlace3, convolute3
10 letters
distortion3, intertwine3, contortion3, interweave3, intertwist
12 letters
construction3, sophisticate4, circumgyrate

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (eddy2 = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français
tordre
Italiano
torcere
Español
torcer
Deutsch
drehen
Català
tòrcer