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 Conversions about Indian casinos can easily become one-dimensional, and without the proper context, public perception can distort what gaming means to our communities. Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2025 Atmospheric turbulence can distort the light, interfering with visibility. Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025 Noise can distort observations and introduce uncertainties into the data, Zhang said. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 6 June 2025 The history of financial regulation has clarified the problems with this approach, but somehow that history still gets badly distorted. Norbert Michel, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for distort
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distort
Verb
  • But shortly after its investigation was published, Freeman sent a six-page letter about it to Elite employees and families, saying the article misrepresented Elite and ignored its students and achievements.
    Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 June 2025
  • Rules of interpretation Companies have to tread a fine between between redesigning their products and fraudulently misrepresenting product classifications.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • New traction and stability programming first needed to cope with the tires deforming significantly under hard acceleration and sending sensors haywire.
    Michael Teo Van Runkle, ArsTechnica, 17 June 2025
  • And so the news that comes out of his administration is deformed as well.
    Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Larger animals, such as bulls and contorted horse-like creatures, represented the autocratic government and agents of said violence.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • McLain had to contort himself in midair and reach across his body, but the ball hit off his glove and into the outfield, allowing two runners to score with two outs in the first inning.
    C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • The scrappy winger then curled in a cross toward the rear-center of the box.
    Jeff Rueter, New York Times, 15 June 2025
  • Swirling the water helps the egg white curl around the yolk and cook into a neat oval shape.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 14 June 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 White House’s callous tactics are warping perceptions of reality.
    Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 14 June 2025
  • Then the dream warped into a nightmare, as some wretched souls began to freeze mid-step or drown in slush, while manic revelries raged all around them.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Distort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distort. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on distort

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