mislead

Meaning

Verb

1. (literally, transitive) To lead astray, in a false direction.
2. (transitive) To deceive by telling lies or otherwise giving a false impression.
3. (transitive) To deceptively trick into something wrong.
4. (broadly, transitive) To accidentally or intentionally confuse.

Noun

1. (countable, transitive, uncountable) A wrong or bad lead; a leading in the wrong direction.
2. (countable, transitive) That which is deceptive or untruthful (e.g. a falsehood, deception, untruth, or ruse).

Synonyms

deceive

cheat

delude

trick

lead astray

misguide

misinform

misdirect

beguile

confuse

swindle

fool

con

lure

puzzle

betray

entice

lead on

bewilder

disorientate

hoodwink

perplex

decoy

defraud

baffle

seduce

mystify

deny

err

mismanage

misstate

mix up

palter

ride

ridicule

ruin

scam

sophisticate

stall

tempt

double cross

pull leg

cheat someone

hood wink

diceive

lea astray

tantalise tantalize

amuse

refuse to acknowledge or

astray

Translations

irreführen

tromper

ingannare

engañar

misleiden

égarer

betrügen

enganar

bedriegen

truffare

induire en erreur

täuschen

desencaminhar

enganyar

αποπλανώ

Pronounced as (IPA)

/mɪsˈliːd/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: misleden

Inherited from Old English: mislǣdan

In summary

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