ねじ曲まがる

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

get twisted; get warped; get bent out of shape

Describes something becoming physically twisted, warped, or distorted, often unintentionally. Can also be used figuratively for a personality or way of thinking becoming warped.

湿しっ気けで板いたがねじ曲まがってしまった。
The board got warped from the humidity.
彼かれは心こころがねじ曲まがっている。

He has a twisted mind.

Written forms

ねじ曲まがるUsage59%
Common mixed kanji-kana spelling. The kanji 曲がる is standard for 'bend/warp', while ねじ is often written in kana.
捻ねじ曲まがるUsage21%
Full kanji spelling using 捻じ; less common and may be harder to read.
ねじまがるUsage18%
捩ねじ曲まがるUsage3%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; 捩 is not a standard Jōyō kanji.

Kanji

捻twirl, twist, play with
曲bend, music, melody
捩screw, twist, wrench

Similar words

曲まがる
曲がる is a general intransitive verb for bending or turning. ねじ曲がる adds the nuance of twisting or warping, often with a negative connotation.
ねじ曲まげる
Transitive counterpart: to twist or warp something deliberately. ねじ曲がる is the intransitive form, describing the state of becoming twisted.

Etymology

Compound of ねじ (twist) + 曲がる (bend, warp). The prefix ねじ is related to the verb ねじる (to twist).