CORKSCREW Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

corkscrew 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of corkscrew

as in spiral

turning around an axis like the thread of a screw an angelic child with beautiful corkscrew curls

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

corkscrew

2 of 2

verb

as in to pull

to draw out by force or with effort practically every word had to be corkscrewed out of the tight-lipped witness

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to curl

to follow a circular or spiral course the trail corkscrews through dense woods to the top of the steep hill

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

straighten

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 corkscrew

Adjective

The size and shape of antelope horns range dramatically, from the tiny spikes of duikers to the majestic corkscrew horns (more than 160 cm [63 inches] long) of the greater kudu. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Apr. 2026 The Oscar winner's hair has changed a lot over the years, from her iconic red corkscrew curls in 1983 to a long blonde mane in 2026. — John Russell, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026

Verb

Above ground, corkscrew plants produce small green leaves and delicate flowers. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026 For dinner, choose the soon-to-open French bistro Petit Trois from chef Ludo Lefebvre, or opt for casual comfort (burgers, Jidori chicken Milanese, corkscrew fries) at the convivial, all-day restaurant. — Siobhan Reid, Vogue, 25 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for corkscrew

Recent Examples of Synonyms for corkscrew

Adjective

But your first goal is to make sure that one unexpected bill doesn't trigger a debt spiral — even $25 per pay period is a start.

— Dan Avery, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Queen conchs live in spiral, sandy-colored shells with a bright pink or orange interior.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of spiral

Verb

Pratt fouled off Thornton’s first pitch and then pulled back his bat on the second one, a fastball right down the middle.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
Washington has turned to pulling economic levers six months into a war on Iran that has ground to a stalemate militarily, with peace talks stalled and most traffic through the crucial Strait of Hormuz blocked.

— Tucker Reals, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of pull

Verb

Women figured prominently in many of Mansour’s works, such as the 1984 Flight to Egypt, depicting a mother curled over her sleeping baby.

— News Desk, Artforum, 28 Aug. 2026
For our recipe, the Test Kitchen poached just-cooked oysters in milk until their edges began to curl.

— Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of curl

Verb

Early in this year’s war, the United States and Israel considered launching ground operations to extract nuclear material but never initiated them, judging them to be highly risky and unlikely to affect the regime’s decision-making.

— Nate Swanson, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
With the clock racing down to find Joe before she's extracted out of the country to her death, the team launches an assault against an airport hangar.

— David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of extract

Verb

This species spends most of its time coiled around tree branches more than 30 meters (100 feet) high, descending during the night to prey on birds, small mammals, frogs, and other reptiles on the forest floor.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Aug. 2026
As management continues to prove themselves, multiples are coiled to go higher.

— Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 30 July 2026

Definition of coil

Verb

For Fernández, now Miss Montana, the road to success has been winding.

— Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Three Fall Must-Dos Cruise one of the most underrated fall drives in the US—the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, encompassing winding Needles Highway in Custer State Park and Iron Mountain Road, famous for its 300-plus hairpin turns.

— Taryn Shorr-Mckee, Midwest Living, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of wind

Verb

But plenty of long-range computer models continue to show a future for the system, most as a tropical storm headed west toward the Caribbean, although plenty also show a potential track that curves north of Puerto Rico.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Several other curved, slender bones were soon found nearby, according to pictures shared with the station.

— Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of curve

Browse Nearby Words

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corkscrew

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“Corkscrew.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corkscrew. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of corkscrew

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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