twisted
TWIHS-tihd
Twisted (adj) means Bent, wound, or contorted out of its natural shape. Example: “The old oak tree had a twisted trunk shaped by years of wind.”
adj
1
Bent, wound, or contorted out of its natural shape.
"The old oak tree had a twisted trunk shaped by years of wind."
"He untangled the twisted cable behind the desk before plugging it in."
"The car's twisted metal frame showed the force of the crash."
2
Mentally or morally distorted; disturbing or perverse.
"It was a twisted plot, and the audience left feeling deeply uneasy."
"The killer had a twisted sense of humor."
"It's a pretty twisted way to treat someone you claim to love."
How to use twisted
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPhysically bent out of shape, or figuratively disturbed and perverse.
Common pairings
twisted logic
twisted metal
twisted mind
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more twisted
- Superlative
- most twisted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old oak tree had a _____ trunk shaped by years of wind.
Etymology
From the verb twist; the literal "bent out of shape" sense came first, and the "mentally disturbed" sense developed by the early 1800s.
Class of 1800
twisted joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for twisted
See all rhymes for twisted →Frequently asked questions
What does “twisted” mean?
The word “twisted” means bent, wound, or contorted out of its natural shape. In plain terms, physically bent out of shape, or figuratively disturbed and perverse.
How do you pronounce “twisted”?
“Twisted” is pronounced TWIHS-tihd (/ˈtwɪstɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “twisted” in a sentence?
Here is “twisted” used in a sentence: “The car's twisted metal frame showed the force of the crash.”
What part of speech is “twisted”?
“Twisted” is an adjective.
Where does the word “twisted” come from?
The word “twisted” dates back to around 1800. From the verb twist; the literal "bent out of shape" sense came first, and the "mentally disturbed" sense developed by the early 1800s.
Is “twisted” a common word?
“Twisted” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “twisted” have?
“Twisted” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: bent, wound, or contorted out of its natural shape.
What is the difference between a "twisted ankle" and a "sprained ankle"?
A "twisted ankle" is an everyday phrase for turning or rolling the ankle awkwardly, describing how the injury happened. A "sprained ankle" is the more specific result: stretched or torn ligaments in the joint. A twist often causes a sprain, so the two phrases are frequently used for the same injury.
What is the difference between "twisted" and "warped" when describing a person?
Both use a distorted, bent-out-of-shape image to describe a disturbing or morally wrong mind. "Twisted" suggests something perverse or cruel, while "warped" suggests thinking that has been bent away from what is normal or healthy. They overlap heavily and are often interchangeable in this sense.
What is the difference between "twisted" and "bent"?
In the literal sense, "twisted" means turned or wound out of shape around an axis, while "bent" means curved or angled out of a straight line. Figuratively, both can imply something is not right, though "twisted" leans toward disturbing or perverse and "bent" often implies corruption or dishonesty.
