warp 1 of 2

warp

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verb

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as in to deform
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition freezing warped the plastic, and now the cover won't fit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb warp contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of warp are contort, deform, and distort. While all these words mean "to mar or spoil by or as if by twisting," warp indicates an uneven shrinking that bends or twists out of a flat plane.

warped floorboards

When could deform be used to replace warp?

The synonyms deform and warp are sometimes interchangeable, but deform may imply a change of shape through stress, injury, or accident of growth.

a face deformed by hatred

How do distort and contort relate to one another, in the sense of warp?

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.

the odd camera angle distorts the figure
disease had contorted her body

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of warp
Noun
As Hugo points out to Jess later, the boat’s close quarters warp perspective. Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2025 The former, with its iconic castles, characters, and warp pipe entrance, and the latter with dozens of dragons, three rides, and one amazing show do not disappoint. Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 3 June 2025
Verb
The original Tron has been digitally scanned and meticulously restored by The Walt Disney Film Restoration team, which corrected the new digital master for dirt, warping and other source imperfections. John Archer, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 In Netflix’s Long Story Short, BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg uses the elasticity of animation to warp time, dropping in on a singular Jewish family a couple dozen times from the 1990s to 2022 (and once in 1959). Judy Berman, Time, 30 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for warp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warp
Noun
  • Corps officials will evaluate each request on a case by case basis.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2025
  • This creates a better environment for fuller, stronger hair to grow—something our testers began to notice after lathering up with it on a regular basis.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But the speakers broke up and distorted at this volume.
    Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Messy data wrecks forecasts, distorts reporting and wastes time.
    Thasha Batts, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In some cases, performance degraded despite having access to better tools.
    Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • However, as seals in the engines, designed to stop leaks, wear and degrade, oil seeps in and vaporizes in the heat, releasing toxic compounds onboard.
    Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • According to Burlison, the video shows a high-speed object—presumably the missile—hitting the orb, which then deforms, tumbles, and sheds smaller fragments, one barely visible.
    Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The unmistakable signature of chilli thrips are blooms that look deformed, scorched, singed and burnt.
    Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The atmosphere on set was quite relaxed, because it was built on a foundation of mutual trust, which made the work go very smoothly.
    Jenny S. Li, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
  • Build companies on people Capital may drive growth, but the true foundation of Campus Apartments has always been our people.
    David J. Adelman, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Wells Fargo and its shareholders agreed to settle a federal class-action lawsuit alleging the bank misrepresented its diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring initiatives by holding phony job interviews.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Ethical storytelling frameworks exist to protect people from being misrepresented, tokenized and/or exploited.
    Kristine Johnson, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Also on display was a 1774 letter from King George III to Prime Minister Lord North, acknowledging the escalating rebellion in the American colonies and referencing the Boston Tea Party as a pivotal moment in deteriorating relations.
    Amanda Castro Hannah Parry Shane Croucher Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • In the weeks after the phone call, the relationship between the two countries deteriorated.
    Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • And also just seeing and showing to folks that this corruption shows up in the bills that are passed that are then creating loopholes for special interests while you're getting screwed.
    Jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
  • That was the famous California ballot initiative Proposition 13, which slashed property taxes by more than 25% and then screwed a tight cap on future rate increases.
    Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Warp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warp. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.

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