as in distortions
the twisting of something out of its natural or normal shape or condition
the catastrophic deformation of the steel girders under the enormous weight of the bridge
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Recent Examples of deformations
Reference markers printed directly onto the silicone collar let a tiny onboard camera measure those deformations in real time.
—
Omar Kardoudi
april 23, New Atlas, 23 Apr. 2026
Most of the shifts and deformations gradually returned to normal by six months after return to Earth.
—Rachael Seidler, Space.com, 7 Mar. 2026
The engineers then continuously tracked the slabs’ deformations.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 19 Feb. 2026
Most of the shifts and deformations gradually returned to normal by six months after return to Earth.
—Rachael Seidler, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
Though cranial deformations were not unheard of in Mesoamerica, researchers stressed that this type is less common than other types in the region — and unusually combines both tabular erect and tabular superior styles.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 Dec. 2025
Scientists in 2024 confirmed that Earth’s inner core reversed its spin, and in February 2025 the same team revealed changes to the inner core’s shape, with deformations in its shallowest level.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
Asurvey of three species of octopuses from Europe and the Americas catalogued a total of 6,781 arm deformations.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025
All in all, the researchers cataloged 3,907 arm actions that required 6,871 arm deformations.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 14 Sep. 2025
Omar Kardoudi
april 23, New Atlas, 23 Apr. 2026
Most of the shifts and deformations gradually returned to normal by six months after return to Earth.
—Rachael Seidler, Space.com, 7 Mar. 2026
The engineers then continuously tracked the slabs’ deformations.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 19 Feb. 2026
Most of the shifts and deformations gradually returned to normal by six months after return to Earth.
—Rachael Seidler, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
Though cranial deformations were not unheard of in Mesoamerica, researchers stressed that this type is less common than other types in the region — and unusually combines both tabular erect and tabular superior styles.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 Dec. 2025
Scientists in 2024 confirmed that Earth’s inner core reversed its spin, and in February 2025 the same team revealed changes to the inner core’s shape, with deformations in its shallowest level.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
Asurvey of three species of octopuses from Europe and the Americas catalogued a total of 6,781 arm deformations.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025
All in all, the researchers cataloged 3,907 arm actions that required 6,871 arm deformations.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 14 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deformations
Noun
-
This will allow Roman to hunt down exoplanets through flickers, or distortions, in starlight as planets pass in front of stars — assuming the distortions aren't due to starquakes, or some other stellar phenomena.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The film opens with real mirages filmed near Aswan in Egypt, where atmospheric conditions produce optical distortions.—
Lise Pedersen,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The toebox’s square shape is also particularly accommodating for bunion deformities.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2026
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Fish embryos that grow in the presence of oil may be born with heart defects, as well as spine and skull deformities.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deformations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deformations. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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