Distortion
noun
The act of twisting or altering something out of its true, natural, or original state.
The mirror gave a distortion of her figure.
Often appears as...
- distortion of reality
- distortion of fact
noun
An inaccurate or untrue representation of something.
Her thinking is dominated by distortions
Often appears as...
- cognitive distortion
- perceptual distortion
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A change in the shape of an image that makes it look twisted or spoiled.
The camera lens has a slight distortion.
Often appears as...
- lens distortion
- optical distortion
Usage tips
Disapproving
Technical
noun
A change to the sound produced by a device where it becomes less clear and more harsh or unpleasant.
The guitar has a lot of distortion.
Often appears as...
- sound distortion
- signal distortion
Usage tips
Disapproving
Technical
noun
The act of twisting or altering something out of its true, natural, or original state.
The mirror gave a distortion of her figure.
Often appears as...
- distortion of reality
- distortion of fact
noun
An inaccurate or untrue representation of something.
Her thinking is dominated by distortions
Often appears as...
- cognitive distortion
- perceptual distortion
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A change in the shape of an image that makes it look twisted or spoiled.
The camera lens has a slight distortion.
Often appears as...
- lens distortion
- optical distortion
Usage tips
Disapproving
Technical
noun
A change to the sound produced by a device where it becomes less clear and more harsh or unpleasant.
The guitar has a lot of distortion.
Often appears as...
- sound distortion
- signal distortion
Usage tips
Disapproving
Technical
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Negative connotation
Often implies something was intentionally altered in a misleading way.
The politician’s speech was full of distortions.
Pro Tip 2/3Visual imagery
Used for describing visual alterations that change perception.
Funhouse mirrors are known for the distortion of reflections.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical use
Can be used to describe altering facts or the truth.
His memoir was criticized for its distortion of historical events.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative connotation
Often implies something was intentionally altered in a misleading way.
The politician’s speech was full of distortions.
Pro Tip 2/3Visual imagery
Used for describing visual alterations that change perception.
Funhouse mirrors are known for the distortion of reflections.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical use
Can be used to describe altering facts or the truth.
His memoir was criticized for its distortion of historical events.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative connotation
Often implies something was intentionally altered in a misleading way.
The politician’s speech was full of distortions.
Pro Tip 2/3Visual imagery
Used for describing visual alterations that change perception.
Funhouse mirrors are known for the distortion of reflections.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical use
Can be used to describe altering facts or the truth.
His memoir was criticized for its distortion of historical events.
Compare with
alterationcorruptiondeformationdisfigurefalsificationmisrepresentperversiontwist
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Video examples
Testing the Mona Lisa PIPE...
before the kite has a lot of distortion associated with it and by using this technology were hoping to be able to record the exact shape so that it can study the physical behavior of the painting is the painting deteriorating besides assessing the paintings physical condition the high-tech regimen helped
Video examples
Why we get mad -- and...
So for a long time, psychologists have referred to these as cognitive distortions or even irrational beliefs. And yeah, sometimes they are irrational. Maybe even most of the time. But sometimes, these thoughts are totally rational. There is unfairness in the world. There are cruel, selfish people,
Video examples
The mystery of chronic...
that did nothing more than hold all the important things together like the nerves but it turns out the glial cells have a vital role in the modulation amplification and in the case of pain the distortion of sensory experiences these glial cells become activated their
Video examples
The evolution of the...
Over the millenia, as such light cups grew deeper in some organisms, the opening at the front grew smaller. The result was a pinhole effect, which increased resolution dramatically, reducing distortion by only allowing a thin beam of light into the eye.
Video examples
The surprising origins...
for whom she felt platonic affection. Current consensus is that these stories, which ridicule Sappho or deny her work’s homoeroticism, are probably all untrue artifacts of misogyny and homophobia. Despite the distortions of the intervening millennia,
Video examples
The physics of playing...
to create effects like distortion, overdrive, wah-wah, delay and flanger. And lest you think that the physics of music is only useful for entertainment, consider this. Some physicists think that everything in the universe
Video examples
Why every world map is...
an interrupted pseudo-cylindrical equal area projection. What does that mean? Not important. The point was to minimize distortion for the entire world. The map can be land-oriented... or ocean-oriented.
Video examples
Imaging at a trillion...
The order at which events take place in the world appears in the camera sometimes in reversed order. So by applying the corresponding space and time warp, we can correct for this distortion.
Video examples
Abundance is our future...
it's no wonder that we're pessimistic. It's no wonder that people think that the world is getting worse. But perhaps that's not the case. Perhaps instead, it's the distortions brought to us
Video examples
We need more women...
women are seen and heard were all too often shown as objects or victims this distortion damages everyone research tells us that we know less and
Video examples
Testing the Mona Lisa PIPE...
before the kite has a lot of distortion associated with it and by using this technology were hoping to be able to record the exact shape so that it can study the physical behavior of the painting is the painting deteriorating besides assessing the paintings physical condition the high-tech regimen helped
Video examples
Why we get mad -- and...
So for a long time, psychologists have referred to these as cognitive distortions or even irrational beliefs. And yeah, sometimes they are irrational. Maybe even most of the time. But sometimes, these thoughts are totally rational. There is unfairness in the world. There are cruel, selfish people,
Video examples
The mystery of chronic...
that did nothing more than hold all the important things together like the nerves but it turns out the glial cells have a vital role in the modulation amplification and in the case of pain the distortion of sensory experiences these glial cells become activated their
Video examples
The evolution of the...
Over the millenia, as such light cups grew deeper in some organisms, the opening at the front grew smaller. The result was a pinhole effect, which increased resolution dramatically, reducing distortion by only allowing a thin beam of light into the eye.
Video examples
The surprising origins...
for whom she felt platonic affection. Current consensus is that these stories, which ridicule Sappho or deny her work’s homoeroticism, are probably all untrue artifacts of misogyny and homophobia. Despite the distortions of the intervening millennia,
Video examples
The physics of playing...
to create effects like distortion, overdrive, wah-wah, delay and flanger. And lest you think that the physics of music is only useful for entertainment, consider this. Some physicists think that everything in the universe
Video examples
Why every world map is...
an interrupted pseudo-cylindrical equal area projection. What does that mean? Not important. The point was to minimize distortion for the entire world. The map can be land-oriented... or ocean-oriented.
Video examples
Imaging at a trillion...
The order at which events take place in the world appears in the camera sometimes in reversed order. So by applying the corresponding space and time warp, we can correct for this distortion.
Video examples
Abundance is our future...
it's no wonder that we're pessimistic. It's no wonder that people think that the world is getting worse. But perhaps that's not the case. Perhaps instead, it's the distortions brought to us
Video examples
We need more women...
women are seen and heard were all too often shown as objects or victims this distortion damages everyone research tells us that we know less and
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Amanda de Cadenet
English Photographer
At age 14, you are just beginning to work out who you think you are, and being famous is a huge distortion of reality, and it's not healthy for a young person to be considered more special than their peers. So, I would say it hindered my self-esteem but in later years gave me a great perspective that I wouldn't have if I hadn't experienced that.
Quote examples
Blase J. Cupich
American Clergyman
Some pro-life advocates focus almost exclusively on the rights and suffering of the unborn baby, while some pro-choice advocates focus equally exclusively on the rights and suffering of pregnant women. This is a distortion of the moral choice that confronts us as a society.
Quote examples
Rush Limbaugh
American Entertainer
I had to learn early on that where conservatives are concerned, the truth about them is the last thing anybody wants to report. It's the lies and distortions, the mischaracterizations, the character assassinations, that people want to report.
Quote examples
Edward Thorndike
American Psychologist
The un-conscious distortion of the facts is almost harmless compared to the unconscious neglect of an animal's mental life until it verges on the unusual and marvelous.
Quote examples
Robert Morgan
American Poet
One of the most powerful devices of poetry is the use of distortions. You can go from talking about the way a minute passes to the way a century passes, or a lifetime.
Quote examples
Joe Wilson
American Politician
No longer is there a quest for the truth so much as there is this apparent need to present both sides of an issue even if one is nothing but lies and distortions.
Quote examples
Eve Ensler
American Playwright
I think the greatest illusion we have is that denial protects us. It's actually the biggest distortion and lie. In fact, staying asleep is what's killing us.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
The deceit and distortion surrounding the American invasion of Vietnam is by now so familiar that it has lost its power to shock.
Quote examples
John Petrucci
American Musician
When I think of a lot of the players I admire, they could always play their parts without hiding behind distortion and sustain.
Quote examples
Marcel Duchamp
French Artist
Distortion came first from the fauves, who, in turn, were under the strong influence of primitive art.
Quote examples
Amanda de Cadenet
English Photographer
At age 14, you are just beginning to work out who you think you are, and being famous is a huge distortion of reality, and it's not healthy for a young person to be considered more special than their peers. So, I would say it hindered my self-esteem but in later years gave me a great perspective that I wouldn't have if I hadn't experienced that.
Quote examples
Blase J. Cupich
American Clergyman
Some pro-life advocates focus almost exclusively on the rights and suffering of the unborn baby, while some pro-choice advocates focus equally exclusively on the rights and suffering of pregnant women. This is a distortion of the moral choice that confronts us as a society.
Quote examples
Rush Limbaugh
American Entertainer
I had to learn early on that where conservatives are concerned, the truth about them is the last thing anybody wants to report. It's the lies and distortions, the mischaracterizations, the character assassinations, that people want to report.
Quote examples
Edward Thorndike
American Psychologist
The un-conscious distortion of the facts is almost harmless compared to the unconscious neglect of an animal's mental life until it verges on the unusual and marvelous.
Quote examples
Robert Morgan
American Poet
One of the most powerful devices of poetry is the use of distortions. You can go from talking about the way a minute passes to the way a century passes, or a lifetime.
Quote examples
Joe Wilson
American Politician
No longer is there a quest for the truth so much as there is this apparent need to present both sides of an issue even if one is nothing but lies and distortions.
Quote examples
Eve Ensler
American Playwright
I think the greatest illusion we have is that denial protects us. It's actually the biggest distortion and lie. In fact, staying asleep is what's killing us.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
The deceit and distortion surrounding the American invasion of Vietnam is by now so familiar that it has lost its power to shock.
Quote examples
John Petrucci
American Musician
When I think of a lot of the players I admire, they could always play their parts without hiding behind distortion and sustain.
Quote examples
Marcel Duchamp
French Artist
Distortion came first from the fauves, who, in turn, were under the strong influence of primitive art.
Example 1 of 10
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