contortive

contortive — adjective

  • contortivepositive
  • more contortivecomparative
  • most contortivesuperlative

1. involving extreme twisting, bending, or folding — used to describe a body positi

1.形容詞C1
釋義

involving extreme twisting, bending, or folding — used to describe a body position, plant form, or shape that looks unnatural or strained.

例句

The dancer's contortive poses drew gasps from the crowd during the performance.

collocation: contortive pose — a body position that is twisted unnaturally

A contortive spasm twisted the patient's spine into an unusual curve.

collocation: contortive spasm — a muscle contraction that twists the body

同義詞
  • contorted

    far more common; describes the result ('the tree had contorted branches') rather than the quality ('contortive branches')

  • twisted

    general and neutral; does not carry the extreme/unusual connotation of contortive

  • distorted

    focuses on being pulled out of a normal shape, not necessarily by twisting

  • gnarled

    specific to wood and tree trunks; implies rough texture as well as twisting

反義詞
  • straight

    the opposite of twisted or bent

  • smooth

    the opposite of a twisted, uneven surface

用法筆記

Almost always used attributively (before a noun). More common in descriptive or literary contexts than in everyday conversation. The related adjective 'contorted' is far more frequent.

常見錯誤

❌The road made a contortive turn.
✅The road made a sharp turn.
💡'contortive' applies to body parts, plants, or shapes that physically twist, not abstract direction changes.
❌She felt contortive pain.
✅She felt a sharp twisting pain.
💡'contortive' describes visible shape or movement, not a sensation.