What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
twist
Example
She twisted the cap off the bottle with ease. [twisted: past tense]
Example
The movie had a twist ending that surprised everyone. [twist: noun]
Example
He showed us how to do the twist during the dance lesson. [the twist: noun]
distort
Example
The heat distorted the metal frame of the car. [distorted: past tense]
Example
The media's coverage of the event distorted the truth. [distort: verb]
Example
The radio signal was distorted and hard to understand. [distorted: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Distort is more commonly used than twist in everyday language, especially in discussions of facts or information. Twist is more commonly used in creative writing or storytelling.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between twist and distort?
Distort is typically associated with a more formal tone, especially in discussions of facts or information. Twist is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.