contorted

Contorted is an adjective meaning twisted or bent out of the natural or normal shape, often in a way that seems strained or unnatural. It applies to physical forms, such as a contorted branch or contorted posture, and to figurative uses, such as a contorted expression or contorted reasoning.

The term derives from Latin contortus, meaning twisted, from the verb contorquere to twist; the form entered English through French and other routes. The noun contortion shares the same root and refers to the act or result of twisting into a distorted shape.

In literary and critical contexts, contorted frequently conveys dramatic distortion or complexity, as in contorted expressions, contorted landscapes, or contorted reasoning. The term is more emphatic than "twisted" and is often used to suggest unnaturalness or artificiality.