as in to distort
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition
a cynic whose face seems to be permanently deformed by a sneer
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deform
Their atoms are held together by strong chemical bonds and arranged in a stable crystal structure that resists deforming, even at extreme temperatures.
—
Vitor Rielli, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2026
Topping a cactus stem or cutting through a leaf or pad will leave behind ugly scarring and deform the plant.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
Hadi tells an engaging story, brings complex and surprising characters to life, lends a locale an aesthetic iconography, and renders personal identity inextricable from the forces of history that shaped or deformed it.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
American bases built inside the ice sheet, such as Camp Century, were quickly crushed as the encasing snow deformed.
—Paul Bierman, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deform
Vitor Rielli, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2026
Topping a cactus stem or cutting through a leaf or pad will leave behind ugly scarring and deform the plant.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
Hadi tells an engaging story, brings complex and surprising characters to life, lends a locale an aesthetic iconography, and renders personal identity inextricable from the forces of history that shaped or deformed it.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
American bases built inside the ice sheet, such as Camp Century, were quickly crushed as the encasing snow deformed.
—Paul Bierman, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deform
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deform
Verb
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Rates reversal Historically low mortgage rates, spurred by deep economic uncertainty during the pandemic’s worst days, helped to distort the market.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
18 Mar. 2026
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Ogalla said she was targeted by six mailings from Gallagher’s campaign that distorted her voting record, especially on property taxes and her efforts to reduce truck traffic.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As a magnetar spins on its axis at nearly the speed of light, its immense magnetic field contorts, coils and twists to pump out powerful radiation.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
11 Mar. 2026
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While continual pruning can be a solution, doing so will contort the natural form.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Then there are the indirect ways stress can screw with your gut.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
13 Mar. 2026
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To make a profit from their business, American companies sent their manufacturing facilities overseas, screwing American workers by incurring smaller labor costs, therefore profiting rich investors who never had to work for it and used their money to make more money off the American consumer.—
Jay Reddick,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deform.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deform. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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