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Meaning & use

gross distortion

noun·Academicformal

Last updated

UK/ˌɡrəʊs dɪˈstɔːʃn/
US/ˌɡroʊs dɪˈstɔːrʃn/

Meanings

  1. nouncountableformal

    A description or account that is extremely untrue or unfair compared with the facts.

    Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a gross distortion' or 'gross distortions'.

    Patterns

    • a gross distortion of something
    • be a gross distortion
    • gross distortions of the facts

    Calling the peaceful protest a riot was a gross distortion of what actually happened.

    The article was a gross distortion of her research, and she asked for a correction.

    His summary of the report was a gross distortion, leaving out every positive finding.

  2. noununcountableformal

    The act of changing information so badly that it no longer represents the truth.

    Grammar: Uncountable when it names the process rather than one example: 'through gross distortion of the data'.

    Patterns

    • through gross distortion of something
    • gross distortion of the facts

    The numbers were made to look alarming through gross distortion of the survey results.

    Gross distortion of evidence has no place in a serious court case.

  3. nouncountable or uncountabletechnical

    A sound or image that is very badly changed from its original form.

    Grammar: Used in technical talk about audio or pictures, countable for one instance.

    Patterns

    • gross distortion of a signal
    • cause gross distortion

    The cheap speakers produced a gross distortion of the singer's voice.

    At high volume the recording suffers gross distortion.

Word forms

pluralgross distortions

Common combinations

a gross distortion of the facts
The headline was a gross distortion of the facts.
a gross distortion of the truth
Saying she resigned in disgrace is a gross distortion of the truth.
a gross distortion of reality
The film offers a gross distortion of reality rather than a real history.
dismiss something as a gross distortion
The minister dismissed the story as a gross distortion.
border on gross distortion
Some of these claims border on gross distortion.

Synonyms and how they differ

misrepresentation
A more neutral, legal-sounding word for giving a false account; it does not stress how extreme the falseness is.
travesty
Stronger and more emotional, suggesting something ridiculous and shameful, not just inaccurate.
perversion
Suggests a twisting of something good into something bad; stronger and more judgmental than 'distortion'.

Opposites

accurate accountfaithful representation

Word family

distort verb
To change something so it is no longer true or correct.
distorted adjective
Changed from the true or original form.
distortion noun
A change that makes something untrue or unclear.

Commonly confused: gross distortion or gross? gross distortion or distraction?

gross distortion vs gross

As a standalone adjective 'gross' usually means disgusting or total; in this phrase it means extreme or blatant.

gross distortion vs distraction

A distraction takes your attention away; a distortion twists the facts themselves.

Practice

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