Warped
/wɔːrpt/
adjectiveverbB2past tense, past participle
Definition
Warped means something has been bent or twisted out of its normal shape. This can happen to objects like wood or metal when they change because of heat or pressure. It can also describe ideas or views that are not normal or fair, meaning they are "twisted" in a way that is wrong or strange.
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See It in Action
Bent or twisted out of shape physically
- •The wooden door was warped after the rain made it wet.
- •The old picture frame is warped because of heat.
- •The metal sheet warped when it was left near the fire.
Changed in a strange or wrong way, often about ideas or views
- •His warped sense of humor can sometimes upset people.
- •The story shows a warped view of reality.
- •She has a warped idea about what is right and wrong.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "warped" like "bent" (A1 word), but more serious and often strange or wrong
- ✓Picture a wooden board that was straight but now looks bent and twisted after getting wet or hot
- ✓It's the feeling when you see something that should be smooth but looks strange and uneven, like a funhouse mirror
- ✓Sounds like "warped" → imagine a "warp" in a video game where the world bends or changes shape suddenly
- ✓Think of a story where a character’s mind is warped—they see things in a strange or wrong way
- ✓NOT like "broken" (completely damaged), warped means changed shape but still connected and whole
- ✓NOT like "curved" (gentle bend), warped is uneven and often looks wrong or unnatural
- ✓NOT like "normal" or "straight"—warped is the opposite, showing something is changed or strange
Try Other Words
- •Twisted: turned in a spiral or uneven way (Use when the shape is turned around itself)
- •Distorted: changed from the normal or true shape (Use when the change is about appearance or meaning, often negative)
- •Bent: curved or not straight (Use when the shape is simply curved or angled)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: root "warp" + "-ed" (past tense suffix showing action done or state)
- •Etymology: From Old English "wearp" meaning something thrown or a turn in weaving cloth
- •Historical development: Originally about cloth or wood bending, later used for any twisted shape or strange idea
- •Modern usage: Used for physical shapes and also for describing strange or wrong ideas, thoughts, or views
- •Key insight: The word connects to bending or turning from the normal, often with a negative or strange feeling
Reflect & Connect
•How can something be physically warped but still usable or valuable?
•Can ideas or feelings be warped in a way that helps people, or is it always bad?
Fill in the blanks
1.The wooden floor became warped because of ___ water damage and humidity.
2.His warped sense of humor made some people ___, while others laughed.
3.Unlike a simple bend, a warped object usually has ___ and uneven shapes.
4.When the metal ___ in the heat, it could no longer fit its place.
5.She described his ideas as warped because they did not match ___ facts.
6.The old photo frame looked ___ after being left in the sun for months.
7.People often say a mind is warped when it sees things in a ___ way.