1
as in to distort
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition
screwed up his face at the taste of the medicine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to squeeze
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
managed to screw his siblings out of their share of the inheritance
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 screw
And, as usual, the people with the fewest resources will get screwed.
—
Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
No matter what Robert does, he’s totally screwed.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
This is an innocent guy who’s getting completely screwed, to use some legal vernacular, in terms of his career.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Whatever the cause, Denton plays Guy as a mid-tier Vampire Diaries protagonist, never evincing a range beyond just sort of screwing his face up a bit when he’s supposed to be upset.
—Lily Osler, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2025
And while the screw-on cap is comprised of BPA-free, durable, and food-safe polypropylene, Brandon recommends always hand-washing the tops and not leaving them out in the sun, as UV light can break down even the best plastics.
—Clay Abney, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2025
The Broncos got screwed on an interference call that placed the ball on the 1-yard line.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Simply unscrew the base and fill with water, then heap the coffee into the filter basket and screw on the top.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 10 Oct. 2025
This screwed a lot of people over.
—Hadley Hitson, Nashville Tennessean, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screw
Verb
-
This is why the contestants sound distorted when talking during the show.—
-
Freedom from want mattered because deprivation distorts judgment.—
Verb
-
The Panthers squeezed a few end-of-career seasons out of guys such as Dino Ciccarelli and Igor Larionov.—
-
Instead, 2026 is about building both stylish and sensible outfits that can take you from the airport to the streets with maximum versatility without ever squeezing into tight, form-fitting fabric.—
Verb
-
American bases built inside the ice sheet, such as Camp Century, were quickly crushed as the encasing snow deformed.—
-
Like stirring honey instead of water, deforming a thicker, more viscous interior requires more energy.—
Verb
-
The only reason that Bikini Frankenstein does not rank higher on this list is because putting a softcore porno at the top would feel like cheating.—
-
But like his predecessor, this Frankenstein is just as obsessed with immortality and cheating death through science.—
Verb
-
Mikomi sees images generated by Grok of her wearing specific fetish outfits, or her body contorted or placed in strange contexts.—
-
And children’s faces are contorted with terror.—
Verb
-
But Haise did lead Lens to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years, finished one point behind PSG in 2023, and did, to pluck a one-off game out of the ether, oversee a 2-1 win over Arteta’s Arsenal.—
-
While Marty Supreme is only loosely inspired by Reisman, there are several sequences and character details plucked from his life.—
Verb
-
Robinson got confused, tried to switch onto the curling Dixon-Waters while his defender, Chuck Bailey III, also trailed him to the wing, leaving Gwath alone under the basket for an easy dunk.—
-
In winter, enjoy the festive Christmas market at Römerberg, take in the fairytale atmosphere of the winter lights at the Palm Garden, or watch a local variation of curling played amid the skyscrapers at Skyline Plaza.—
Verb
-
There was nobody to meet us; the jeep that had been scheduled to pick us up had gotten stuck about ten miles away and would take another two or three hours to arrive.—
-
Simply tuck your AirTag into the silicone pouch and stick the case to the inside of your suitcase—you’ll never have to worry about forgetting to pop the tracking device into your bag ever again.—
Cite this Entry
“Screw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screw. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share