DISTORT Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

distort

verb

di-ˈstȯrt

Definition of distort next

as in to misrepresent

to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of the coach's message was so distorted after passing through so many people that it was unintelligible

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to deform

to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition if you keep distorting your face like that, someday it's going to freeze in that position

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Such content — whether produced as clickbait for commercial gain or for political motives — has proliferated over the past year, distorting the history of Nazi Germany's murder of six million European Jews during World War II. —

CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026 Not one for false abnegation of words distorted by smears, Rushdie doubles down on his right to freedom of expression, defending his dissent from religious orthodoxy. —

David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 25 Jan. 2026 All politicians spin and distort to some extent, of course. —

Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026 That warping distorts the image in the same way that wearing someone else’s glasses blurs your sight. —

Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 25 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for distort

Recent Examples of Synonyms for distort

Verb

Stewart recounted how the Department of Homeland Security has continued to misrepresent Pretti’s death and questioned why they would be allowed to investigate the murder themselves.

— Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 27 Jan. 2026
According to Nielsen’s 15th annual Black Diverse Intelligence Series, a whopping 71% of Black audiences still feel misrepresented because of this.

— Essence, Essence, 26 Jan. 2026