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tergiversar

to distort

verb tehr-hee-behr-SAHR Rare
Communication Speech

Origin: Latin tergiversari (to turn one's back), from tergum (back) + vertere (to turn).

Also means

to misrepresent

Usage Note

Tergiversar means to twist or distort facts, statements, or intentions — to misrepresent deliberately. It is almost always used in the context of language or information: tergiversar las palabras de alguien (to twist someone's words). Unlike mentir (to lie), tergiversar implies working with real material but warping it; unlike malinterpretar (to misunderstand), it suggests deliberate intent. It is a formal or journalistic register word.

Examples

"El periodista lo acusó de tergiversar sus palabras."

Natural Translation

The journalist accused him of distorting his words.

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