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Misdirect: meaning, definitions and examples

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misdirect

 

[ ˌmɪs.dɪˈrɛkt ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

in a situation

To give someone the wrong directions or instructions, leading them to the wrong place or conclusion. It can also refer to misleading or deceiving someone intentionally.

Synonyms

confuse, misguide, mislead

Examples of usage

  • He misdirected me to the wrong building.
  • The magician misdirected the audience's attention to conceal his next trick.
  • She misdirected the investigators by planting false evidence.
Context #2 | Noun

in a situation

An act or instance of giving the wrong directions or instructions, especially with the intent to deceive.

Synonyms

deception, misguidance, misleading

Examples of usage

  • The misdirect caused us to be late for the meeting.

Translations

Translations of the word "misdirect" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desviar

🇮🇳 भ्रमित करना

🇩🇪 fehlleiten

🇮🇩 menyalahkan arah

🇺🇦 спрямувати неправильно

🇵🇱 zmylić

🇯🇵 誤った方向に導く

🇫🇷 détourner

🇪🇸 desviar

🇹🇷 yanlış yönlendirmek

🇰🇷 잘못된 방향으로 이끌다

🇸🇦 تضليل

🇨🇿 zmást

🇸🇰 zmiasť

🇨🇳 误导

🇸🇮 zmotiti

🇮🇸 villt leið

🇰🇿 жолдан адастыру

🇬🇪 შეცდომაში შეყვანა

🇦🇿 yanlış yönəltmək

🇲🇽 desviar

Etymology

The word 'misdirect' originated in the late 16th century from the prefix 'mis-' meaning wrong or badly, and the word 'direct'. It has been used in English to describe the action of giving someone the wrong directions or misleading them.

See also: bidirectional, direct, directability, directing, direction, directions, directive, directiveness, directives, directly, directness, director, directorial, directors, directory, indirect, misdirection, undirected.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,150, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.