distortions
Bent out of shape
Distortions are alterations that twist something from its true, original, or intended form.
Physical distortions warp shape or sound: The funhouse mirrors created wild distortions of our bodies.
Distortions of truth misrepresent facts: His account was full of distortions.
In audio or visual media, distortion degrades signal quality—though guitar distortion is often deliberately sought.
False or misleading statement
- falsificationDeliberate alteration of truth
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
- hyperboleRhetorical extreme exaggeration
- spinRapid rotation around axis
propaganda · embellishment · fabrication · manipulation · doctoring · tampering · caricature · overstatement
Becoming bent or twisted
- bendingCurving from straight
- twistingRotating with distortion
- deformationChange in shape
- bucklingBending from compression
curvature · contortion · misshapen · skewing · stretching · compression · bulging · sagging
Misleading sensory impression
- hallucinationPerception without external cause
- mirageAtmospheric optical deception
- aberrationDeviation from the norm
- blurLack of sharpness
fuzziness · refraction · parallax · astigmatism · fish-eye · funhouse · kaleidoscope · haze
Unfair inclination or prejudice
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- misperceptionIncorrect interpretation of reality
- confabulationInvented memories believed true
- rationalizationInventing acceptable motives afterward
projection · denial · anchoring · framing · stereotyping · overgeneralization · catastrophizing · filtering
misrepresentation
False or misleading statement
- falsificationDeliberate alteration of truth
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
- hyperboleRhetorical extreme exaggeration
spin · propaganda · embellishment · fabrication · manipulation · doctoring · tampering · caricature · overstatement · inflation
warping
Becoming bent or twisted
- bendingCurving from straight
- twistingRotating with distortion
- deformationChange in shape
buckling · curvature · contortion · misshapen · skewing · stretching · compression · bulging · sagging · wrinkling
illusion
Misleading sensory impression
- hallucinationPerception without external cause
- mirageAtmospheric optical deception
- aberrationDeviation from the norm
blur · fuzziness · refraction · parallax · astigmatism · fish-eye · funhouse · kaleidoscope · haze · shimmer
bias
Unfair inclination or prejudice
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- misperceptionIncorrect interpretation of reality
- confabulationInvented memories believed true
rationalization · projection · denial · anchoring · framing · stereotyping · overgeneralization · catastrophizing · filtering · personalization
feedback
Returned response data
crackling · interference · fuzz · overdrive · saturation · reverb · echo · phasing · flanging · wow
- irregularitiesbumps, dents, ridges, grooves, ripples
- misinformationmisinformation, disinformation, fake news, falsehoods, hoaxes
- thinking errorsad hominem, straw man, slippery slope, confirmation bias, sunk cost fallacy
- Mistakes & Liesmistakes, lies, errors, error, mistake
- deceptionslie, lies, lying, deceit, decoy
- fluctuationsfluctuations, oscillations, variations, swings, waves
distortionsaccuracies
Degrees of correctness
clarities · truths · high fidelity · fidelity · verities
distortionsregularities
Recurring predictable patterns
symmetries · evenness · uniformities · straightness · structural integrity
- audio distortionDegraded sound quality
- time distortionAltered perception of duration
- visual distortionAltered image appearance
- cognitive distortionsIrrational thinking patterns
- distortion pedalEffect that clips signal
- reality distortionAltering perceived truth