distorted

[ dih-stawr-tid ]

adjective

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

   She has a distorted view of life.

2. twisted; deformed; misshapen.
3. mentally or morally twisted, as with an aberration or bias:

   He has a distorted sense of values.

Other Words From

• dis·torted·ly adverb
• dis·torted·ness noun
• nondis·torted adjective
• nondis·torted·ly adverb
• nondis·torted·ness noun
• undis·torted adjective
• undis·torted·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of distorted¹

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

Example Sentences

While the original news article was accurate, fact-checking group PolitiFact has said that the Bell’s palsy story has become exaggerated and distorted.

From Washington Post

If we hope to ever address racial injustice, then we need to stop presenting our distorted data as “ground truth.”

From MIT Technology Review

Juried by Shanti Norris, chief curator for the Integrated Arts and Healing program at Fairfax County’s Inova Schar Cancer Institute, the show includes many images of distorted or shattered figures.

From Washington Post

Another possible symptom is a distorted sense of smell or taste.

From Washington Post

Musk described this type of paralysis as caused by distorted electrical signals in the brain.

From Fortune

It starts off like any other Lana tune, replete with minor chords and humming, distorted vocals.

From The Daily Beast

“I think the attacks on Fareed are distorted, irresponsible, and unfair,” Weisberg emailed.

From The Daily Beast

I speak here to warn people that the facts presented in the opera are incomplete and distorted.

From The Daily Beast

Potentially violent men, with raging distorted views of reality, get to decide.

From The Daily Beast

What we hear about the women of Everest is often sensationalized, exaggerated, reimagined or distorted—if we hear anything at all.

From The Daily Beast

To this end they spread a distorted epitome of his favourite views, amongst their retainers.

From Project Gutenberg

He may have nothing to boast about himself, and his distorted mind may magnify the deeds of the younger man.

From Project Gutenberg

The news of Bruce's success, no doubt exaggerated and distorted, produced a great sensation in the northern parts of Scotland.

From Project Gutenberg

He would try whether, in a new state of life, the same distorted individuality was a necessary possession.

From Project Gutenberg

Because the injustice and absurdity of English law had distorted and besmirched her own perfectly legitimate action.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• wry