Synonyms

distorted

American

[dih-stawr-tid] / dɪˈstɔr tɪd /

adjective

not truly or completely representing the facts or reality; misrepresented; false.

She has a distorted view of life.
twisted; deformed; misshapen.
mentally or morally twisted, as with an aberration or bias.

He has a distorted sense of values.

Other Word Forms

distortedly adverb
distortedness noun
nondistorted adjective
nondistortedly adverb
nondistortedness noun
undistorted adjective
undistortedly adverb

Etymology

Origin of distorted

First recorded in 1625–35; distort + -ed ²

Explanation

If you have ever looked at yourself in a funhouse mirror, you probably saw an image that was quite distorted. Okay, so maybe your hair looked kind of weird that day, but your whole body wasn’t really that misshapen. This adjective is derived from the Latin verb distortus, which means “to twist different ways.” When something is distorted this can mean that it has been changed from the original form in any way. Someone can have a distorted worldview, or facts from an event can be distorted in the retelling. If a politician is misquoted in the newspaper, then it could be said that her opinion has been misrepresented or distorted by the media.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing distorted

Twists and Turns: Tor

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Elie Wiesel's "Hope, Despair and Memory" (1986)

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

"An Awful Human Trade," Vocabulary from the news article

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Recent reporting of the meeting is highly exaggerated and distorted," the Pentagon said on X. "The meeting between Pentagon and Vatican officials was a respectful and reasonable discussion."

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

It’s a cracked mirror, with each fragment revealing a different, distorted image of the human psyche — and it’s really funny, too.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

"However, cancer should rather be understood as a distorted form of development."

From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2026

The principal themes, too, become distorted and recast.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Then she set her sights on the front gates, and as she got closer and closer a new band started up and distorted music swallowed us all whole.

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023