contort

You don’t need to contort yourself to fit into someone else’s life, especially if that life doesn’t align with who you are or what you value.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

As much as the series is Mary’s bluestocking origin story, it also spells her freedom, which comes from no longer trying to impress or contort herself to fit the expectations of others.

From Salon ● Jun. 25, 2026

Mr. Ali’s attempt to contort it to reflect the controversy over immigration policy is ham-handed and confused.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

With a swarm of dancers all wearing the same gray uniform, they contort their bodies around her, creating a collective spectacle.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 2, 2025

Christina looks away, and at first I think she is bashful, but then I see her face contort like he slapped her instead of complimented her.

From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth

Nevertheless, a cheeky portion of blue-green paint contorts itself into a standing position in the corner, fighting against the weight that urges the rest of the work Earthward.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026

An actor differs: “One contorts oneself thousands of times, but dies only once … It’s simply not worth it.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2025

Callahan, 13, contorts herself into a backbend as 7-year-old Hudson fiddles with a balloon and 10-year-old Keegan plays the piano.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 24, 2023

But it never did—just the latest gruesome way in which society contorts itself to accommodate cars.

From Slate ● Mar. 17, 2023

Pa tries to control his anger but his face contorts.

From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung

He contorted his tongue or lips to reach the high notes, and it was all hilarious.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

There is so much that the public doesn’t know, and even more that can be contorted by disinformation and colloquial slang, making these important subjects the butt of the joke.

From Salon ● Apr. 26, 2026

Ibrox contorted itself as the goalkeeper performed heroics and then the place let out a guttural groan as Hatate made it third time lucky.

From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2026

So, where did a baseball-loving future MLB star growing up in Sherman Oaks come to such a contorted conclusion?

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2026

His eyes were narrow slits of spite, and his mouth was contorted in malice.

From "The Ugly One" by Leanne Statland Ellis

Those people are some of Burning Man’s worst PR reps, contorting the meaning of its principles to suit themselves.

From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026

I have watched videos of people doing cold plunges, giving themselves ear massages and contorting themselves into impossible stretches all in the name of fixing dysregulation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

He developed an uncanny ability to create his own shot under the most difficult of circumstances, manipulating defenses and contorting his way through the lane with ease.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 11, 2026

Images of Vance have sprouted up on X contorting his face into that of, well, everything you can imagine.

From Slate ● Mar. 5, 2025

Even Hitler, who had been contorting himself in concert with the athletes, was watching him.

From "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand