distort

I

(Roget's IV) v.

1. [To change by pressure]

Syn. warp, crush, twist; see bend 1 .

2. [To alter the meaning]

Syn. pervert, misrepresent, misconstrue, twist; see deceive , lie 1 .

3. [To change shape]

Syn. contort, sag, twist, slump, knot, get out of shape, buckle, writhe, melt, warp, decline, deteriorate, deform, wrench, collapse, become misshapen, misshape, deviate from the standard form, deviate from the normal form; see also change 4 .

Syn.- distort implies a twisting or wrenching out of the normal or proper shape or form [ a mind distorted by fear ] ; deform implies a marring of form, appearance, or character, as if by pressure or stress [ lengthy descriptions that deform the novel ] ; contort suggests an even more violent wrenching out of shape so as to produce a grotesque or unpleasant result [ a face contorted by pain ] ; warp implies a bending out of shape, as of wood in drying, and, hence, suggests a turning aside from the true or right course [ judgment warped by prejudice ]

II

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) v.

1. misshape contort, deform, twist, warp, gnarl, wrench, screw, knot, disfigure.

2.misrepresent misconstrue, falsify, lie, misinterpret, alter, twist, slant, pervert, stretch, varnish, embellish.

III

(Roget's Thesaurus II) verb 1. To alter and spoil the natural form or appearance of: contort, deform, disfigure, misshape, twist. See BEAUTIFUL. 2. To give an inaccurate view of by representing falsely or misleadingly: belie, color, falsify, load, misrepresent, misstate, pervert, twist, warp, wrench, wrest. Idiom: give a false coloring to. See TRUE.