Definition of distort
transitive verb
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
nounIndulge Your Inner Word Nerd
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
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In the heart of the speech Trump distorted the facts of the Paris agreement and indulged in the kind of us-against-the-world rhetoric that suggests the address was written by his Dark Lord adviser -- and chief cheerleader, Stephen Bannon.
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The image is crisp and clear, in part because the moon doesn’t have an atmosphere to distort the sun’s magnificent light.
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But the insistent realness of a Trumpalike onstage does distort the way the play comes across.
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In response, the government said the defense was distorting the history of the case’s progression to trial.
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The moon’s crisp horizon can be seen from this view because the moon has no atmosphere to distort the sunlight.
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The funny thing is, even at their most distorted, the portraits are fairly recognizable to the human eye.
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The Tricorder works by projecting a laser mesh onto an object, then recording the way the shape of its surface distorts the beam.
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
Synonym Discussion of distort
DISTORT Defined for English Language Learners
distort
playDefinition of distort for English Language Learners
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: to change the natural, normal, or original shape, appearance, or sound of (something) in a way that is usually not attractive or pleasing
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: to change (something) so that it is no longer true or accurate
DISTORT Defined for Kids
distort
playDefinition 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.
Learn More about distort
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See words that rhyme with distort Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for distort Spanish Central: Translation of distort Nglish: Translation of distort for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of distort for Arabic speakers
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