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 Galaxies are well known to bend and distort light waves, and some cosmologists say the voids must do as well and have developed the mathematical tools to study how this might make the universe look to observers on Earth. —

The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 31 Dec. 2024 Thanks to the fast processor, your videos won’t drag or catch a delay that distorts images. —

Shea Simmons, People.com, 15 Dec. 2024 This inflates the cost to taxpayers and distorts the insurance market and premium calculations. —

Steve Brozak, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024 Russian evil will not break Ukraine and will not distort Christmas. —

Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 25 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for distort

Recent Examples of Synonyms for distort

Verb

The company will also be banned from misrepresenting loot box odds, prices, and features, and will need to allow users to buy them with money instead of in-game virtual currency.

— Will McCurdy, PCMAG, 18 Jan. 2025
Blake Lively was either severely misled by her team or intentionally and knowingly misrepresented the truth.

— Jack Smart, People.com, 17 Jan. 2025