contortionist
Americannoun
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a person who performs gymnastic feats involving contorted postures.
-
a person who practices contortion.
a verbal contortionist.
noun
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a performer who contorts his body for the entertainment of others
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a person who twists or warps meaning or thoughts
a verbal contortionist
Other Word Forms
- contortionistic adjective
Etymology
Origin of contortionist
First recorded in 1855–60; contortion + -ist
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Companies like Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey offered elephants, equestrian acts, clowns and contortionists in a huge Big Top that could seat thousands.
“I don’t know how it got under there. It must be a contortionist,” he told The Times.
From Los Angeles Times
“May I leave my contortionist skills at the door and speak from the heart?” asked the Oscar-nominated performer.
From Los Angeles Times
The magician Ricky Jay’s compendium of actual “unique, eccentric and amazing entertainers” offers a parade of con artists, charlatans, escapologists, daredevils, mesmerists, contortionists and sideshow acts.
That word came up many times during the show’s first audition rounds as dancers, singers, magicians, acrobats and a contortionist took the stage.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
