What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
detort
Example
He tried to detort the wire by pulling it in the opposite direction. [detort: verb]
Example
The politician attempted to detort the false accusations made against him. [detorting: gerund or present participle]
distort
Example
The heat caused the plastic to distort and warp. [distort: verb]
Example
The media often distorts the truth to create sensational headlines. [distorting: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Distort is a more commonly used word than detort in everyday language. Distort is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while detort is less common and is typically used in technical or specialized contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between detort and distort?
Both detort and distort are formal words that are typically used in technical or specialized contexts. However, distort is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.