Inklingo

deformar

deh-for-MAHR/defoɾˈmaɾ/

deformar means to deform in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to deform, to misshape

Also: to warp, to distort
VerbB1regular ar
A colorful clay ball being squashed by a hand into an irregular, lopsided shape.
gerunddeformando
past Participledeformado
infinitivedeformar

📝 In Action

El calor intenso puede deformar el plástico de la botella.

B1

Intense heat can deform the plastic of the bottle.

Si llevas mucho peso, se te va a deformar la espalda.

B2

If you carry too much weight, your back is going to become misshapen.

La humedad deformó la madera de la puerta.

B1

The humidity warped the wood of the door.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • alterar (to alter)
  • desfigurar (to disfigure)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • deformar la imagento distort the image
  • fácil de deformareasy to deform

to distort, to twist

Also: to misrepresent
VerbB2regular ar
A straight wooden stick partially submerged in a glass of water, appearing bent and broken where it enters the liquid.
gerunddeformando
past Participledeformado
infinitivedeformar

📝 In Action

No intentes deformar la realidad para tener razón.

B2

Don't try to distort reality just to be right.

La prensa deformó sus declaraciones originales.

C1

The press twisted his original statements.

A veces la memoria deforma los recuerdos del pasado.

C1

Sometimes memory distorts recollections of the past.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tergiversar (to distort/twist words)
  • falsear (to falsify)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • deformar la verdadto distort the truth
  • deformar un mensajeto distort a message

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdeformaran
yodeformara
deformaras
vosotrosdeformarais
nosotrosdeformáramos
él/ella/usteddeformara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdeformen
yodeforme
deformes
vosotrosdeforméis
nosotrosdeformemos
él/ella/usteddeforme

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesdeformaron
yodeformé
deformaste
vosotrosdeformasteis
nosotrosdeformamos
él/ella/usteddeformó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdeformaban
yodeformaba
deformabas
vosotrosdeformabais
nosotrosdeformábamos
él/ella/usteddeformaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdeforman
yodeformo
deformas
vosotrosdeformáis
nosotrosdeformamos
él/ella/usteddeforma

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✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: deformar

Question 1 of 3

If you put a plastic toy near a fire, what might happen?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
deformación(deformation)Noun
deforme(deformed/misshapen)Adjective
deformidad(deformity)Noun
deformado(deformed/out of shape)Adjective
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

From the Latin 'deformare', which combines 'de-' (away from/reversing) and 'formare' (to shape/form). Essentially, it means to take something away from its natural shape.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: deformFrench: déformerItalian: deformare

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'deformar' always a bad thing?

Usually, yes. It implies that something is losing its correct or intended shape or that the truth is being hidden.

Can I use 'deformar' for people?

It can be used for physical bodies (like a spine or a bone), but be careful as it can be insensitive. It is more common for objects or abstract ideas.

Does it change its stem in the present tense?

No, it is a completely regular verb. The 'o' stays an 'o' in all forms (deformo, deformas, etc.).