contortionist

[ kuhn-tawr-shuh-nist ]
See synonyms for contortionist on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a person who performs gymnastic feats involving contorted postures.

  2. a person who practices contortion: a verbal contortionist.

Origin of contortionist

1
First recorded in 1855–60; contortion + -ist

Other words from contortionist

  • con·tor·tion·is·tic, adjective

Words Nearby contortionist

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use contortionist in a sentence

  • You had to become almost a contortionist to eat like that, but necessity works wonders!

  • Inside the “Love” window Elphresh the contortionist elf dances in from of a gold boom-box and 9-foot chrome mushrooms.

    The Incredible Art of Christmas Windows | Barbara Ragghianti | November 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • Just before she ran off with that contortionist—you know who I mean—handsome chap—what's his name?

    Jaffery | William J. Locke
  • The contortionist had reappeared before the table, and had greeted her mistress by touching her hands to her face.

    Snnica | Vicente Blasco Ibez
  • This stranger was a contortionist, there could be no question about that now.

    White Fire | Roy J. Snell
  • He hoped that, by this time, they had succeeded in shaking the contortionist off their trail.

    White Fire | Roy J. Snell
  • A forger and a contortionist make a bad customer to reckon with.

    The Red Seal | Natalie Sumner Lincoln

British Dictionary definitions for contortionist

contortionist

/ (kənˈtɔːʃənɪst) /


noun
  1. a performer who contorts his body for the entertainment of others

  2. a person who twists or warps meaning or thoughts: a verbal contortionist

Derived forms of contortionist

  • contortionistic, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012