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
Synonyms
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
Wash trading is prohibited under U.S. law, specifically by the Commodity Exchange Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and financial regulators closely monitor markets for signs of such activity due to its potential to distort market integrity and mislead investors.
—
Jack Kelly, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
The Labor Department said its survey of establishments — the raw material for payrolls numbers — was distorted by hurricane effects, as well as an unusually tight window for employers to respond to the department's surveys.
—Axios, 1 Nov. 2024
They were distorted and then redefined by an outside gaze.
—Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2024
The shape of a cluster can be distorted because of the gravitational influence of unseen matter between Earth and the cluster.
—Dan Falk, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for distort 
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Jack Kelly, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
The Labor Department said its survey of establishments — the raw material for payrolls numbers — was distorted by hurricane effects, as well as an unusually tight window for employers to respond to the department's surveys.
—Axios, 1 Nov. 2024
They were distorted and then redefined by an outside gaze.
—Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2024
The shape of a cluster can be distorted because of the gravitational influence of unseen matter between Earth and the cluster.
—Dan Falk, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for distort
Dictionary Entries Near distort
Cite this Entry
“Distort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distort. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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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