Word
distorted
Phoneticsdis·tort·ed, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈstɔɹtəd/
UK/dɪstˈɔːtɪd/
Definitions
01out of shape
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. twisted or pulled out of its natural, normal shape so that it looks strange.
adj. physically misshapen or deformed; having a shape that is twisted away from its original or natural state.
“The reflection in the old, curved mirror looked distorted and strange.”
“The heat from the fire left the plastic casing distorted, making it impossible to fit the pieces back together correctly.”
02false or misleading
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. changed in a way that makes something untrue or hard to understand, like a story or a sound.
adj. misrepresented or altered so as to lose accuracy; often applied to facts, statistics, or electronic signals.
“The newspaper gave a distorted account of what actually happened at the protest.”
“The witness provided a distorted version of the events, likely influenced by the leading questions asked during the initial interview.”
Synonyms
03past action of changing shape
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. the past tense of 'distort' — when something was pulled out of shape or changed to be untrue.
v. the past tense and past participle of the transitive verb 'distort', indicating the completed action of twisting or misrepresenting.
“The loud music distorted the sound coming through the small speakers.”
“The heavy gravitational pull of the star distorted the path of the light passing near it, a phenomenon predicted by general relativity.”
Real-World Examples
“Petals and hearts were photoshopped on to the then-Labour leader by the "Milifandom", a movement of young, mostly female, voters sharing romanticised images on Twitter to protest against Miliband's "distorted media portrayal".” “Among them, the height to volume model was applied to heavily browsed willows with unusual growth forms, even though the model was not designed for such distorted shapes.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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