contort

/kən-ˈtȯrt/

Middle English, from Latin contortus, past participle of contorquēre, from com- + torquēre to twist

verb

  1. to twist in a violent manner

  2. to twist into or as if into a strained shape or expression

features contorted with fury

deform distort contort warp means to mar or spoil by or as if by twisting. deform may imply a change of shape through stress, injury, or accident of growth. distort and contort both imply a wrenching from the natural or normal, but contort suggests a more involved twisting and a more grotesque and painful result.