deform

verb

de·​form di-ˈfȯrm How to pronounce deform (audio)
dē-
deformed; deforming; deforms

transitive verb

1
: to spoil the form of
2
a
: to spoil the looks of : disfigure
a face deformed by bitterness
b
: to mar the character of
a marriage deformed by jealousy
3
: to alter the shape of by stress

intransitive verb

: to become misshapen or changed in shape
deformable adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for deform

deform, distort, contort, warp means to mar or spoil by or as if by twisting.

deform may imply a change of shape through stress, injury, or accident of growth.

a face deformed by hatred

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

warp indicates an uneven shrinking that bends or twists out of a flat plane.

warped floorboards

Examples of deform in a Sentence

The disease eventually deforms the bones. The disease eventually causes the bones to deform.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Not theory indoctrination that will deform their minds and body. Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register, 4 Oct. 2024 Webs deformed instantly when jolted with static from flies, aphids, honeybees, and even water droplets. Max G. Levy, WIRED, 27 Oct. 2024 That shift forces the enclosing cell to deform and turn rigid, taking on the sickled appearance that gives the disease its name. Maryn McKenna, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2024 Now the whole organism is something that’s been deformed because of colonialism. Tomris Laffly, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for deform 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French desfurmer, from Latin deformare, from de- + formare to form, from forma form

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deform was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near deform

Cite this Entry

“Deform.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deform. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

deform

verb
de·​form di-ˈfȯ(ə)rm How to pronounce deform (audio)
ˈdē-
: to make or become misshapen or changed in shape
deformation
ˌdē-ˌfȯr-ˈmā-shən
ˌdef-ər-
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on deform

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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