Garble

/ˈɡɑː(ɹ)bəl/ · verb

Meaning

To pick out such parts (of a text) as may serve a purpose not intended by the original author; to mutilate; to pervert..

Definitions by Sense

1. To pick out such parts (of a text) as may serve a purpose not intended by the original author; to mutilate; to pervert.
2. To make false by mutilation or addition. [from 17th c.]
3. To corrupt; to make unreadable, incomprehensible, or unintelligible.
4. (obsolete) To sift or bolt; to separate the fine or valuable parts of (something) from the coarse and useless parts, or from dross or dirt. [14th–19th c.]
5. Confused or unintelligible speech.
6. (obsolete) Refuse; rubbish.
7. (obsolete) Mutilation.
8. (obsolete) Impurities separated from spices, drugs, etc.; garblings.

Example Sentences

to garble a quotation

to garble an account

In a word, as the whole relation is carefully garbled of all the levity and looseness that was in it, so it all applied, and with the utmost care, to virtuous and religious uses. None can, without being guilty of manifest injustice, cast any reproach upon it, or upon our design in publishing it.

The editor garbled the story.

to garble spices

The FCC says it decided to attempt standardization of VHF receivers after getting "thousands of complaints" from disgruntled boatmen who found their sets brought in mostly a lot of garble and static.

Did not the lady smile upon the garble

Synonyms for garble

Antonyms for garble

Related Words

Word Forms

• garbles
• garbling
• garbled

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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