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mislead

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //mɪˈsɫid// UK //mɪslˈiːd// mis·lead

v. to give someone the wrong idea or make them believe something that is not true. This often happens because you leave out important facts or use confusing words.

v. to cause someone to have a false impression or a wrong idea about something. Often implies a deliberate act of deception through omission or ambiguity.


SIMPLE

The advertisement might mislead customers about the actual price.

CONTEXTUAL

The company was fined for using labels that could mislead shoppers into thinking the product was organic.

COMPLEX

While the statistics were technically accurate, the way they were presented was intended to mislead the public regarding the success of the new policy.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English mysleden, from Old English mislǣdan (“to mislead”), from Proto-Germanic *missalaidijaną (“to mislead”). By surface analysis, mis- + lead.

Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object; often used in the passive voice ('be misled').

Pitfall

he misledded mehe misled meMislead is an irregular verb; the past tense and past participle form is 'misled', not 'misledded'.

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