Contortionate

/kənˈtɔrʃəneɪt/ adjective

Definition

Characterized by or involving twisting and contortion; bent or twisted out of shape.

Etymology

A rare or archaic formation combining 'contortion' with the suffix '-ate' (characterized by), creating an adjective meaning 'full of contortion' or 'twisted in nature'.

Kelly Says

This is an extremely rare word in English—you'll almost never encounter it in modern writing—which shows how language naturally selects simpler forms over more cumbersome ones, and 'contorted' wins out because it's shorter and clearer.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.