What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
contortion
Example
The contortion of his face showed how much pain he was in. [contortion: noun]
Example
The gymnast's contortions were impressive to watch. [contortions: plural noun]
distortion
Example
The distortion in the mirror made her look taller than she actually was. [distortion: noun]
Example
The news article contained a distortion of the facts to make the story more sensational. [distortion: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Distortion is more commonly used than contortion in everyday language, as it has a wider range of applications and is more commonly encountered in media and art. Contortion is more limited in usage and is typically used in specific contexts such as dance or acrobatics.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between contortion and distortion?
Both contortion and distortion are formal words that are not commonly used in casual conversation. However, distortion is more versatile and can be used in various formality levels, while contortion is more limited in usage and is typically used in more specialized or technical contexts.
