distorted; distorting; distorts
1
: to twist (see twist entry 1 sense 3b) out of the true meaning or proportion : to alter to give a false or unnatural picture or account
distorted the facts
2
: to twist out of a natural, normal, or original shape or condition
a face distorted by pain
also
: to cause to be perceived unnaturally
the new lights distorted colors
The singer's voice was electronically distorted.
3
: pervert
distort justice
: to become distorted
Heat caused the wax figures to distort.
also
: to cause a twisting from the true, natural, or normal
distorter
noun
Examples of distort in a Sentence
Her face was distorted by pain.
The odd camera angle distorted her figure in the photograph.
The sound of the guitar was distorted.
Heat caused the plastic to distort.
She felt he was distorting the facts.
The story was distorted by the press.
The loss of both her parents at an early age distorted her outlook on life.
Recent Examples on the Web
Only in our current cultural moment, the stakes and outcomes are distorted in ways an artist of Simone’s era could never recognize.
—
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2025
But that bag still has a way of distorting things for some players.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2025
The notion that oil companies receive massive handouts distorts public perception and fuels unnecessary animosity toward the sector.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Combating antisemitism should not come at the cost of distorting reality or creating false equivalences.
—Yinam Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distort
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Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2025
But that bag still has a way of distorting things for some players.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2025
The notion that oil companies receive massive handouts distorts public perception and fuels unnecessary animosity toward the sector.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Combating antisemitism should not come at the cost of distorting reality or creating false equivalences.
—Yinam Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distort
Cite this Entry
“Distort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distort. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
distort
verb
dis·tort
dis-ˈtȯ(ə)rt 
1
: to tell in a way that is misleading : misrepresent
distorted the facts
2
: to twist out of a natural, normal, or original shape or condition
distorter
noun
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