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

Example 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 This session will explore the critical need to recognize, understand, and combat these harmful narratives that distort truth and threaten the integrity of our communities. Essence, 5 July 2025 The purpose of government has been distorted by runaway entitlement spending, and neither voters nor leaders want to restore the Founders’ vision. Dominic Pino, National Review, 4 July 2025 Donovan continued that social media also distorts wealth. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 29 June 2025 However, the same technologies that can immortalize could also distort and manipulate reality. Sahar Hashmi, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for distort
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distort
Verb
  • Republican lawmakers have largely rallied around Trump, accusing Democrats of misrepresenting the legislation.
    Zac Anderson, USA Today, 2 July 2025
  • The claims misrepresent both the nature and scale of violence affecting white farmers.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Slight temperature changes can deform the mirror, causing the image to blur, but 232 actuators behind the mirrors help to nudge everything back into focus.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 23 June 2025
  • The pair venture deep into the tunnel, where they're suddenly attacked by a naked and deformed woman who kills Keith.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 1 June 2025
Verb
  • His gimmick involved bizarre, contorting movements and reciting nursery rhymes before terrorizing his opponents.
    Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
  • Her call was clear: stop contorting ourselves to fit broken norms.
    Nell Derick Debevoise, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • Jheri curl references abound on TikTok and Reddit, often exchanged by users born upwards of 10, 20, or even 30 years after the hairstyle’s reign.
    Kelli María Korducki, thehustle.co, 11 July 2025
  • The Dyson Airwrap Origin, a more streamlined version of the viral favorite Dyson Complete, uses the same Coanda airflow (without extreme heat) to curl, smooth, and volumize with just a few attachments.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • That’s a surefire way to bend the brim and otherwise misshape it.
    Talia Ergas, Travel + Leisure, 27 June 2023
  • The misshapen hemoglobin misshape the cells.
    Jason Mast, STAT, 19 Dec. 2022
Verb
  • The YouTube search results have warped into an apparent AI breeding ground, crammed with hourlong mixes full of soporific dreck.
    Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 2 July 2025
  • It’s crafted from high-impact polystyrene that is designed to withstand different weather conditions, including snow, rain, intense sun, and wind without warping, fading, or splintering.
    Maggie Horton, People.com, 28 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Distort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distort. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on distort

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