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Meaning & use

distorted

adjective, verb·Academic

Last updated

UK/dɪˈstɔːtɪd/
US/dɪˈstɔːrtɪd/

“distorted” is a form of “distort”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Twisted or changed so that the shape, sound, or look is no longer natural or correct.

    Grammar: Describes physical features: a distorted image.

    Patterns

    • distorted by something

    The mirror gave a distorted view of my face.

    The speaker produced a harsh, distorted sound.

    Heat made the plastic bottle look distorted.

  2. adjectivecomparablefigurative

    Presented in a false or misleading way, so that it no longer matches the truth.

    Grammar: Applies to facts and ideas: a distorted account.

    Patterns

    • distorted by something

    The news gave a distorted picture of the town.

    His memory of the event was distorted by fear.

    A distorted view of money can cause problems.

  3. verbtransitive

    Twisted or misrepresented something, as the past tense of distort.

    Grammar: Takes an object: they distorted the facts.

    Patterns

    • distort something

    The report distorted the facts to look better.

    Rain on the glass distorted the lights.

    Stress distorted his judgment.

Common combinations

distorted view
He has a distorted view of success.
distorted image
The lens produced a distorted image.
distorted sound
The old radio gave a distorted sound.
badly distorted
The picture was badly distorted.
distorted picture
Social media can paint a distorted picture of life.

Synonyms and how they differ

warped
Warped suggests bending out of shape, often through heat, and can also mean morally twisted.
twisted
Twisted is plainer and can describe a physical turn or a bitter mind.
misrepresented
Misrepresented is used only for facts or ideas, not shapes or sounds.
skewed
Skewed suggests a bias in data or opinion, rather than damage.

Opposites

accurateundistortedfaithful

Word family

distort verb
to twist or misrepresent
distortion noun
the act or result of distorting
undistorted adjective
not changed from the original
distortive adjective
tending to cause distortion

Commonly confused: distorted or extorted?

distorted vs extorted

Extorted means obtained by force or threats. Distorted means twisted or misrepresented.

Practice

The curved mirror gave her a ___ reflection.

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