warp 1 of 2

warp

2 of 2

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
Futuristic power sources — god bless you, dilithium — and replicators also meant that supplies were rarely a problem, though Janeway did ration replicator usage to save energy for the warp drive. Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 Jan. 2025 Remove warps in early spring prior to spring growth to avoid damaging the trunk. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2025
Verb
Rather than warping American ethics, as well as science, the Trump administration should heed that wisdom, and those of scientists protesting today. Alexander Soifer, Scientific American, 2 May 2025 This curious configuration is the result of gravitational lensing, where a distant object is warped and magnified by the gravity of a massive foreground object. Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for warp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warp
Noun
  • The Tax Foundation, for instance, which typically favors lower tax rates, found the bill would increase the 10-year budget deficit by $2.6 trillion from 2025 through 2034 on a conventional basis and by $1.7 trillion on a dynamic basis, if growth were assumed.
    Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 3 June 2025
  • Migraine is considered a neurologic disorder with a genetic basis.
    Cathy Nelson, Verywell Health, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • Noise can distort observations and introduce uncertainties into the data, Zhang said.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 6 June 2025
  • The history of financial regulation has clarified the problems with this approach, but somehow that history still gets badly distorted.
    Norbert Michel, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • Israeli forces are expected to continue their campaign to eliminate remaining Hamas leaders and degrade the group's military capabilities.
    Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
  • Lithium-ion batteries degrade over time and can overheat if charged beyond their capacity and cause fires, according to FEMA’s U.S. Fire Administration.
    David Matthews, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • What if the other side was deformed or even missing?
    Jim Carmichel, Outdoor Life, 5 June 2025
  • The tree resin then sank to the seafloor where it was covered by sediments, deforming the single fragments and preserving them as amber.
    David Bressan, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Noun
  • When trust erodes, so does the foundation for data sharing that powers our innovation economy.
    Nick Hart, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • Such knowledge, fully consistent with patriotism, provides an indispensable foundation for debates about contemporary issues.
    James T. Kloppenberg, Time, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • In other cases, studies in the report were misrepresented, according to the researchers who conducted them.
    Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 29 May 2025
  • Its job is to present your skills and experience—your career story—in the best possible light without misrepresenting your qualifications.
    Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • Fiscal Policy Without exception, the fiscal position of large countries, including the United States, as measured by government debt relative to GDP, deteriorated due to the impact of spending during the pandemic.
    Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
  • But the age and condition of the fleet could deteriorate further, even with an infusion of cash to buy new equipment, because the wait times are so long.
    Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2025
Noun
  • Donaldson’s books have been the bedrock of the BBC’s annual Christmas specials, with this being the 13th to be adapted.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 May 2025
  • In the volcanic bedrock of the Andes, arsenic is naturally abundant and leaches into the drinking water.
    Kermit Pattison, Scientific American, 20 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Warp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warp. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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