distorted; distorting; distorts
1
: to twist (see twist entry 1 sense 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
: to become distorted
Heat caused the wax figures to distort.
also
: to cause a twisting from the true, natural, or normal
distorter
noun
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 on the Web
Kimmel’s September 15 monologue accused MAGA supporters of distorting the shooter’s motives, despite reports that the assailant leaned left politically.
—
Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
But at his recent press conference, the President stood at the dais and delivered a barrage of falsehoods that might not be obviously false to most Americans—misrepresenting evidence on autism, distorting research on vaccines, and offering a grab bag of unscientific medical opinions.
—Dr. Craig Spencer, Time, 23 Sep. 2025
Nation’s final principle encourages investors to watch for misaligned incentives that distort markets.
—Steve Booren, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025
The amount of refraction increases so rapidly as the sun approaches the horizon, that its lower limb is lifted more than the upper, distorting the sun's disk noticeably.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distort
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Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
But at his recent press conference, the President stood at the dais and delivered a barrage of falsehoods that might not be obviously false to most Americans—misrepresenting evidence on autism, distorting research on vaccines, and offering a grab bag of unscientific medical opinions.
—Dr. Craig Spencer, Time, 23 Sep. 2025
Nation’s final principle encourages investors to watch for misaligned incentives that distort markets.
—Steve Booren, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025
The amount of refraction increases so rapidly as the sun approaches the horizon, that its lower limb is lifted more than the upper, distorting the sun's disk noticeably.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distort
Cite this Entry
“Distort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distort. Accessed 26 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
distort
verb
dis·tort
dis-ˈtȯ(ə)rt 
1
: to tell in a way that is misleading : misrepresent
distorted the facts
2
: to twist out of a natural, normal, or original shape or condition
distorter
noun
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