distort
12 synonyms and 0 antonyms for distort, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To twist something out of its normal shape.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use distort
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin distortum, the past participle of distorquēre, "to twist" or "to torture" — combining dis- ("apart") with torquēre ("to twist"), the same root that gives us torque and torture.
Full origin of distort →Frequently asked questions
What does “distort” mean?
The word “distort” means to twist something out of its normal shape. In plain terms, to warp something's shape, or twist the truth so it becomes misleading.
How do you pronounce “distort”?
“Distort” is pronounced dihs-TAWT (/dɪsˈtoɹt/ in IPA).
How do you use “distort” in a sentence?
Here is “distort” used in a sentence: “The heat began to distort the plastic frame.”
What part of speech is “distort”?
“Distort” is a verb.
Where does the word “distort” come from?
The word “distort” comes from Latin. From Latin distortum, the past participle of distorquēre, "to twist" or "to torture" — combining dis- ("apart") with torquēre ("to twist"), the same root that gives us torque and torture.
Is “distort” a common word?
“Distort” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “distort” have?
“Distort” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to twist something out of its normal shape.