distorted

1 of 2

adjective

dis·​tort·​ed di-ˈstȯr-təd How to pronounce distorted (audio)
Synonyms of distortednext
: altered from a true, natural, or normal state, shape, or condition
a distorted image
a distorted view/understanding of the situation
a distorted account of what happened
The public is, I believe, dimly aware of this aspect of ethnography, perhaps in romantically distorted ways, but aware nonetheless.—Roy A. Rappaport
What happens is that you realize people in other countries tend to reach distorted conclusions about the U.S., and you feel obligated to provide what you believe is a full and balanced appraisal.—Norman Cousins

distorted

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of distort

Synonyms of distorted

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Adjective

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Examples of distorted in a Sentence

Adjective surgery to correct a distorted foot
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Haloed in distorted guitar and jagged synths, Wolf comes off as a champion of her own avoidance, her heroism charmingly pathetic. — Enzo Escober, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026 Sometimes Paula chooses to turn the camera on herself, but the film is mostly composed of distorted moving images of contemporary Paris which, in many aspects, still looks like the version of Paris that Choi saw. — Thomas Patier, Artforum, 9 Oct. 2026 From afar in the haze of the desert sun, the columns almost look like narrow, distorted people, aliens standing in a distant vista. — Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Oct. 2026 As one of the tough, defiant women of L7, Sparks has rocked as hard as anyone, built on distorted guitars and extending to the band’s humor and politics. — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for distorted

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1579, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of distorted was in 1579

Rhymes for distorted

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Browse Nearby Words

distort
distorted
distortedly
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Cite this Entry

“Distorted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distorted. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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