distort

/dɪsˈtɔːt/verb

To twist something out of its normal shape, or to change facts so they are no longer accurate.

Example sentences

“The funhouse mirror distorted her reflection into something comical.”
“The article distorted the senator's words to make her look foolish.”

Both physical and figurative: mirrors distort faces, headlines distort facts. 'Distorted' audio is a standard technical complaint.

Synonyms for distort

twist
warp
deform
misrepresent

On the Academic Word List. Find it in: Academic vocabulary.

Related words

distraughtSo upset, worried, or unhappy that it is hard to think clearly.dissonanceAn unpleasant clash of sounds that do not blend well together.distressStrong pain, worry, or suffering of the body or mind, often sudden and severe.disregardA deliberate refusal to pay attention to something or treat it as important.disquietA feeling of unease or worry; the absence of calm in the mind or body.dogmaticStating opinions in a forceful, superior way, as if they could never be wrong.