mislead

Formsmisleads, misleading, misled

Pluralmisleads

1. 1
   verbtransitive

   To deceive someone by telling lies or creating a false impression.

   Advertisers sometimes mislead consumers with vague claims about health benefits.

   He deliberately misled the committee about how the funds were spent.

   Similardeceive, misinform, fool, delude, dupe

2. 2
   verbtransitive

   To lead someone astray, guiding them in a false or wrong direction.

   Bad weather and poor maps misled the expedition far off course.

   These trail markers mislead newcomers who don't know the area.

   Similarmisdirect, misguide

   Oppositeguide, direct

3. 3
   verbtransitive

   To confuse someone about the facts, whether by accident or on purpose.

   Ambiguous wording in the contract misled both parties about their obligations.

   Confusing road signs mislead tourists who are unfamiliar with the city.

   Similarconfuse, misinform, misdirect

4. 4
   verbtransitive

   To deceptively trick someone into doing something wrong or harmful.

   The con artist misled investors into funding a company that never existed.

   Recruiters sometimes mislead young people into signing exploitative contracts.

   Similartrick, dupe, con, deceive, lure

5. 5
   nountransitivecountable or uncountable

   A bad or wrong lead, or the act of leading someone in the wrong direction.

   The anonymous tip proved to be a mislead that sent detectives searching the wrong side of town.

   Good test writers make each mislead plausible enough to tempt a student who has only half learned the material.

   Similardistractor, decoy, misdirection

6. 6
   nountransitivecountable

   A falsehood, deception, or ruse; something put forward to deceive.

   Her alibi was an elaborate mislead that fooled the detectives for weeks.

   The magician's patter is full of misleads that distract the audience.

   Similarruse, deception, trick, ploy, feint

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