distort

verb dis·tort \ di-ˈstȯrt \

Updated on: 22 May 2018

Definition of distort

1 : to twist (see ¹twist 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

intransitive verb

: to become distorted

Heat caused the wax figures to distort.

; also : to cause a twisting from the true, natural, or normal

—

distorter

noun

See distort defined for English-language learners

See distort defined for kids

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 of distort from the Web

But that trade is distorted by the refusal of most governments to allow payment to people who give plasma, blood’s yellowish liquid component.

— The Economist, "Lift bans on paying for human-blood plasma," 12 May 2018
Traditional measures of physician experience and skill can be overshadowed and perhaps distorted by online reviews.

— macaela mackenzie, Allure, "Study Finds Online Reviews for Plastic Surgeons Might Be Misleading," 7 May 2018
Aphids suck plant sap, causing foliage to distort and leaves to drop; honeydew excreted on leaves supports sooty mold growth; and feeding spreads viral diseases.

— the editors of organic life, Good Housekeeping, "10 Most Destructive Garden Insects And How To Get Rid Of Them," 3 June 2016
The baby's face, which is likely distorted by the grainy image quality, looks borderline demonic.

— christina oehler, Woman's Day, "Couple Gets 4D Ultrasound of Their Baby, Find Something Unsettling In Image," 7 Aug. 2015
Baffert attributes the streak to the simultaneous launch of a qualifying point system that has eliminated many of the sprinters that have sometimes distorted how the race has been run.

— tim sullivan, The Courier-Journal, "Bob Baffert makes his move on Kentucky Derby history with his 5th win," 5 May 2018
Also, astronomers were peering through Earth’s atmosphere and then Mars’s atmosphere, which both distort the image.

— jeffrey kluger, Time, "Why Earthlings Are So Obsessed With Mars," 1 May 2018
His vision may have been distorted but there was nothing that could diminish his desire to draw or the power of his work.

— rick kogan, chicagotribune.com, "A tribute to Art Paul, 93, the Chicago designer who gave Playboy its famous look," 30 Apr. 2018
Video provided by Reuters Newslook BRUSSELS — Europe's top trade official said Wednesday that new U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs are distorting global trade and could damage hopes for economic growth.

— lorne cook, USA TODAY, "EU says US steel tariffs are 'distorting' global trade flows, hurting economic growth," 18 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'distort.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of distort

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1567

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

distort Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of distort

deform, distort, contort, warp means to mar or spoil by or as if by twisting. deform may imply a change of shape through stress, injury, or accident of growth.

- a face deformed by hatred

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

warp indicates an uneven shrinking that bends or twists out of a flat plane.

- warped floorboards

DISTORT Defined for English Language Learners

distort

verb

Definition of distort for English Language Learners

: to change the natural, normal, or original shape, appearance, or sound of (something) in a way that is usually not attractive or pleasing
: to change (something) so that it is no longer true or accurate

DISTORT Defined for Kids

distort

verb dis·tort \ di-ˈstȯrt \

Definition of distort for Students

distorted; distorting

1 : to twist out of shape

2 : to change so as to make untrue or inaccurate

Reports distorted the facts.

Word Root of distort

The Latin word torquēre, meaning “to twist,” and its form tortus give us the root tort. Words from the Latin torquēre have something to do with twisting. A retort, or angry reply to another's words, twists those words back at the person. To contort is to twist the body in unusual ways. To distort is to twist something, such as the truth, so much that it appears to be something else.