DISTORT Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'distort' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of distort are contort , deform , and warp . While all these words mean "to mar or spoil by or as if by twisting," distort and contort both imply a wrenching from the natural or normal, but contort suggests a more involved twisting and a more grotesque and painful result. // the odd camera angle distorts the figure // disease had contorted her body

Q: In what contexts can 'deform' take the place of 'distort'?

Although the words deform and distort have much in common, deform may imply a change of shape through stress, injury, or accident of growth. // a face deformed by hatred

Q: When is it sensible to use 'warp' instead of 'distort'?

In some situations, the words warp and distort are roughly equivalent. However, warp indicates an uneven shrinking that bends or twists out of a flat plane. // warped floorboards

distort

verb

di-ˈstȯrt

Definition of distort next

as in to misrepresent

to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of the coach's message was so distorted after passing through so many people that it was unintelligible

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to deform

to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition if you keep distorting your face like that, someday it's going to freeze in that position

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb distort contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of distort are contort, deform, and warp. While all these words mean "to mar or spoil by or as if by twisting," distort and contort both imply a wrenching from the natural or normal, but contort suggests a more involved twisting and a more grotesque and painful result.

the odd camera angle distorts the figure

disease had contorted her body

In what contexts can deform take the place of distort?

Although the words deform and distort have much in common, deform may imply a change of shape through stress, injury, or accident of growth.

a face deformed by hatred

When is it sensible to use warp instead of distort?

In some situations, the words warp and distort are roughly equivalent. However, warp indicates an uneven shrinking that bends or twists out of a flat plane.

warped floorboards

Examples 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 distort Visual cues: Similar to the Ponzo illusion, foreground objects can distort our perception of size and distance, contributing to the illusion of a larger moon. —

Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 18 Oct. 2024 Meanwhile, others cynically attempt to distort any coverage of a Democratic politician as support for that candidate, strategically firing up right-wing outrage with the intention of silencing dissenting views and killing future stories. —

Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 16 Oct. 2024 Did this creature actually have a flat face, or did its poor preservation distort its true features? —

Donald C. Johanson, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024 The oversimplification of scientific issues, coupled with selective reporting, can distort public understanding. —

Monica Sanders, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for distort

Recent Examples of Synonyms for distort

Verb

Recent reporting by the Orange County Register also brought to light a pair of cases in which two candidates misrepresented nomination papers to get on the ballot.

Tri Ta, Orange County Register, 24 Oct. 2024
To categorize these words as solely Gen Z or Gen Alpha slang misrepresents their history, and over-simplifies the way in which language evolves and grows.

Casey Clark, Parents, 15 Oct. 2024