mislead

mis·lead

verb \ˌmis-ˈlēd\

mis·led\-ˈled\mis·lead·ing

Definition of MISLEAD

transitive verb

: to lead in a wrong direction or into a mistaken action or belief often by deliberate deceit

intransitive verb

: to lead astray : give a wrong impression

— mis·lead·er noun

— mis·lead·ing·ly \-ˈlē-diŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of MISLEAD

1. We believe that her comments were deliberately meant to mislead the public.
2. The early results misled us into thinking we would win the election easily.
3. We believe that her comments were deliberately meant to mislead.

First Known Use of MISLEAD

before 12th century

Related to MISLEAD

Synonyms: bamboozle, beguile, bluff, buffalo, burn, catch, con, cozen, delude, dupe, fake out, fool, gaff, gammon, gull, have, have on [chiefly British], hoax, hoodwink, hornswoggle, humbug, juggle, misguide, misinform, deceive, snooker, snow, spoof, string along, sucker, suck in, take in, trick

Antonyms: undeceive

Related Words: kid, put on, tease; bleed, cheat, chisel, defraud, diddle, euchre, flam, fleece, gyp, hustle, mulct, rook, shortchange, skin, squeeze, stick, sting, swindle

Near Antonyms: debunk, expose, reveal, show up, uncloak, uncover, unmask; disclose, divulge, tell, unveil; disabuse, disenchant, disillusion

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See Synonym Discussion at deceive