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

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.

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Vocabulary lists containing distorted

Twists and Turns: Tor

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

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

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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.

In evaluating AI sales figures, analysts should consider the distorted incentives that the recent financing deals create.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

Unlike typical ice core sites, Allan Hills contains ice that has been pushed up and distorted by movement within the ice sheet.

From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2026

“Music artists deserve to compete on a level playing field, not one distorted by bribes, and listeners deserve transparency in what they are being recommended,” Paxton said.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026