1
as in misrepresenting
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
2
as in deforming
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distorting
The distorting design of the Senate and the Electoral College, the filibuster’s persistence, and centralized leadership have all contributed to legislative ossification.
—
Duncan Hosie, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026
Removing those financial incentives would allow care to be organized around quality and access rather than distorting care into forms most favored by bureaucrats.
—Tomas J. Philipson, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
He is hit with a moment of inspiration during their graduation when the principal yells into the mic, distorting the speaker.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 4 Jan. 2026
Today, tariffs are distorting international trade, conflict is raging with Russia’s war on Ukraine, there have been flare-ups between Israel and Iran and the US is seizing oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 25 Dec. 2025
Economists cautioned that recent data should be interpreted carefully, as a 43-day federal government shutdown disrupted the collection of household data, potentially distorting figures on employment.
—Benzinga, Freep.com, 20 Dec. 2025
For heavier items like sweaters or suiting, lay the garments flat on a towel and roll them up to squeeze out the excess water without twisting or distorting the garment.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2025
From leopards in backyards and raccoons riding crocodiles, to bunnies on trampolines, scientists warn that these digital deepfakes are distorting people’s sense of what the natural world looks like.
—New Atlas, 7 Dec. 2025
Or is something distorting our view of the economy?
—NPR, 21 Nov. 2025
Duncan Hosie, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026
Removing those financial incentives would allow care to be organized around quality and access rather than distorting care into forms most favored by bureaucrats.
—Tomas J. Philipson, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
He is hit with a moment of inspiration during their graduation when the principal yells into the mic, distorting the speaker.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 4 Jan. 2026
Today, tariffs are distorting international trade, conflict is raging with Russia’s war on Ukraine, there have been flare-ups between Israel and Iran and the US is seizing oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 25 Dec. 2025
Economists cautioned that recent data should be interpreted carefully, as a 43-day federal government shutdown disrupted the collection of household data, potentially distorting figures on employment.
—Benzinga, Freep.com, 20 Dec. 2025
For heavier items like sweaters or suiting, lay the garments flat on a towel and roll them up to squeeze out the excess water without twisting or distorting the garment.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2025
From leopards in backyards and raccoons riding crocodiles, to bunnies on trampolines, scientists warn that these digital deepfakes are distorting people’s sense of what the natural world looks like.
—New Atlas, 7 Dec. 2025
Or is something distorting our view of the economy?
—NPR, 21 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distorting
Verb
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In response, some on the right charged that the Times and its allies in academia were negatively misrepresenting American history.—
Jonathan Zimmerman,
The Atlantic,
23 Dec. 2025
-
In November 2023, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin began investigating First Choice Women’s Resource Center to see whether the nonprofit had violated state consumer fraud laws by misrepresenting its services to clients, donors and the public.—
Carly Thomsen,
The Conversation,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Like stirring honey instead of water, deforming a thicker, more viscous interior requires more energy.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Because you’re done contorting, shrinking, softening, and waiting for permission.—
Samyra,
SELF,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The Thunder, contorting around the Frenchman’s wingspan, shot better than 68 percent inside the paint on just one fewer attempt than San Antonio.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cattano suggests screwing mug hooks into the bottom of kitchen cabinets to utilize that space between the cupboards and the countertops.—
Bridget Reed Morawski,
Architectural Digest,
7 Jan. 2026
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That’s because the president doesn’t care about screwing people.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Yorgos Lanthimos, Florian Zeller and Juliette Binoche are among more than 800 film professionals who have signed a joint statement condemning the Iranian government for killing and torturing its own people.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
21 Jan. 2026
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Dan Bujor, who lives out of a school bus parked in Long Island City, was arrested Sunday on charges including overdriving animals, torturing and injuring animals and failure to provide sustenance, in addition to driving without a license, in connection with the bizarre incident, cops said.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Taylor Anderson of Broomall, Pennsylvania will compete for the United States in curling and Summer Britcher of Glen Rock, Pennsylvania will represent Team USA in the luge.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Tickets to see the athletes compete are available on the Olympics official website, with prices ranging from about $60 for a curling competition to more than $550 for a figure skating session.—
Amy Nelson,
Twin Cities,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Flimsy rims don’t offer enough structural support to the sheet as a whole and can lead to warping.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Jan. 2026
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Paramount, the people of New York (and, more broadly, the American people who have been inspired by Mamdani’s rise) can also be freer in their activism and political imaginations with a mayor free of such warping pressures.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distorting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distorting. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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