Distort — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /di-ˈstȯrt/ dis·tort

Meaning & Definition of Distort

Distort (verb)

  1. to twist out of the true meaning or proportion, to alter to give a false or unnatural picture or account
  2. to twist out of a natural, normal, or original shape or condition; also, to cause to be perceived unnaturally
  3. pervert

Distort (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: bend, color, cook, falsify, fudge, garble, misinterpret, misrelate, misrepresent, misstate, pervert, slant, twist, warp
    related: misdescribe, misspeak, mistranslate, belie, camouflage, disguise, dissemble, gloss (over), mask, veil, whitewash, bowdlerize, censor, complicate, confound, confuse, mistake, mix (up), mystify, obscure, equivocate, fib, lie, palter, prevaricate
    near: clarify, clear (up), explain, illuminate, illustrate, interpret, spell out, decipher

  2. 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"

    similar: contort, deform, misshape, screw, squinch, torture, warp
    related: deface, disfigure, wrench, wrest, wring, coil, curl, loop, spiral, twine, wind, wreathe
    near: straighten, unbend, uncurl

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Distort

The most common words with a similar meaning to Distort:

bend, color, cook, falsify, fudge, garble, misinterpret, misrelate, misrepresent, misstate, pervert, slant, twist, warp, contort, deform, misshape, screw, squinch, torture

Related Words for Distort

misdescribe, misspeak, mistranslate, belie, camouflage, disguise, dissemble, gloss (over), mask, veil, whitewash, bowdlerize, censor, complicate, confound, confuse, mistake, mix (up), mystify, obscure, equivocate, fib, lie, palter, prevaricate, deface, disfigure, wrench, wrest, wring

Near Antonyms of Distort

clarify, clear (up), explain, illuminate, illustrate, interpret, spell out, decipher, straighten, unbend, uncurl

Word Forms of Distort

Inflections: distorted, distorting, distorts

Derived words: distorter (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Distort

Latin distortus, past participle of distorquēre, from dis- + torquēre to twist torture:1

First known use: 1567t

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Distort

Frequently Asked Questions about Distort

What does "Distort" mean?

"Distort" means to twist out of the true meaning or proportion, to alter to give a false or unnatural picture or account. As a verb, it is defined as: to twist out of the true meaning or proportion, to alter to give a false or unnatural picture or account. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Distort"?

Other words for "Distort" include bend, color, cook, falsify, fudge, garble, misinterpret and misrelate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Distort" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Distort"?

There are 57 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Distort". Common alternatives include bend, color, cook, falsify, fudge, garble, misinterpret, misrelate, misrepresent and misstate.

How do you use "Distort" in a sentence?

Examples of "Distort" in a sentence: "the coach's message was so distorted after passing through so many people that it was unintelligible"; "if you keep distorting your face like that, someday it's going to freeze in that position".

Is "Distort" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Distort" is a verb.

Is "Distort" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Distort" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Distort"?

"Distort" is pronounced /di-ˈstȯrt/ and divided into syllables as dis·tort.

What is the origin of the word "Distort"?

"Distort" comes from Latin distortus, past participle of distorquēre, from dis- + torquēre to twist torture:1. First known use: 1567t.