1
: twisted out of a natural or normal shape
a warped board
Before polishing began, warped panels were straightened and stripes of new wood added to compensate for shrinkage …—
Helen Dudar
Helen DudarHe was told he had a warped cornea due to surgery that had been performed years before.—B. J. Pollock
B. J. Pollock2
a
: eccentrically weird or strange
a warped sense of humor
b
: disturbingly abnormal or distorted
At his office one afternoon, he told me that he blames warped values for the drop in international-news coverage …—Ken Auletta
Ken AulettaIs it a country of great natural resources and human talent, caught in the grip of a warped dictator?—Thomas L. Friedman
Thomas L. Friedman"He took an oath as a Klansman, and he has this really warped, romantic notion of a sacred vow he can never violate."—John Grisham
John Grisham
Synonyms
Examples of warped in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When he’s overwhelmed by the roar of noise in a train station, the sound and video footage get warped and woozy.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2024
Ten years ago, the agency overseeing the upkeep of the majestic New York State Capitol reported that the granite staircase leading to the main entrance was warped and bulging so badly that part of it might collapse at any moment.
—Jay Root, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Outside, potholes pocked the parking lot and deep splits formed in warped sidewalks.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 27 Mar. 2024
The intense heat warped signal lights affixed to a railroad crossing just west of the 140-unit development.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 26 Mar. 2024
His warped old legs bending beneath him at every stride.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
For families hustling in the influencer industry, content creation has offered a viable financial path, but also a warped reality.
—Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 12 Mar. 2024
The show’s surrealism gains momentum from there, and the warped perspective becomes more central — more grotesque, more exciting, funnier — as the show goes on.
—Margaret Lyons, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
More than three years of distance from the daily onslaught has faded, changed — and in some cases, warped — Americans’ memories of events that at the time felt searing.
—Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2024
Ten years ago, the agency overseeing the upkeep of the majestic New York State Capitol reported that the granite staircase leading to the main entrance was warped and bulging so badly that part of it might collapse at any moment.
—Jay Root, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Outside, potholes pocked the parking lot and deep splits formed in warped sidewalks.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 27 Mar. 2024
The intense heat warped signal lights affixed to a railroad crossing just west of the 140-unit development.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 26 Mar. 2024
His warped old legs bending beneath him at every stride.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
For families hustling in the influencer industry, content creation has offered a viable financial path, but also a warped reality.
—Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 12 Mar. 2024
The show’s surrealism gains momentum from there, and the warped perspective becomes more central — more grotesque, more exciting, funnier — as the show goes on.
—Margaret Lyons, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
More than three years of distance from the daily onslaught has faded, changed — and in some cases, warped — Americans’ memories of events that at the time felt searing.
—Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'warped.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of warped was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing warped
Dictionary Entries Near warped
Cite this Entry
“Warped.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/warped. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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More from Merriam-Webster on warped
Nglish: Translation of warped for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of warped for Arabic Speakers
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