SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
misconstrue
verb
To interpret something incorrectly.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Interpret incorrectly
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topMisconstrue often concerns assigning the wrong meaning or motive to words or behavior.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See misconstrue in use
He misconstrued her silence as agreement.
A new volunteer was under the misapprehension that every donated object had already been checked. He began to misconstrue Eleni's questions as criticism of the person who had accepted the desk.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license