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Misguided Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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misguided

[mɪsˈɡaɪdɪd ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

feeling

Having or showing faulty judgement or reasoning; misguided individuals often make poor decisions based on inaccurate information or beliefs.

Synonyms

erroneous, misinformed, misled.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
misguided

When someone makes a decision or holds a belief based on incorrect judgment or misunderstood information.

  • Her plans to drop out of college seemed misguided
  • He made a misguided attempt to fix the issue
misinformed

When someone is given wrong or incomplete information, leading them to hold incorrect beliefs or make wrong decisions.

  • She was misinformed about the company's policies
  • The public was misinformed by the false rumors
misled

When someone is deliberately or unintentionally guided to believe something that is incorrect or false. Has a slightly negative connotation.

  • The advertisement misled customers about the product's benefits
  • He felt misled by his friend's advice
erroneous

When referring to information, data, or beliefs that are simply wrong or incorrect.

  • The report contained several erroneous conclusions
  • His claim was based on erroneous information

Examples of usage

  • They were misguided in their attempt to navigate through the forest without a map.
  • His misguided trust in the dishonest salesman led to financial loss.
Context #2 | Verb

action

To give wrong directions or instructions to; to lead or direct in a wrong way or course.

Synonyms

confuse, misdirect, mislead.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
misguided

Used to describe someone who has a wrong or inappropriate belief or intention, often due to poor judgment or misinformation.

  • Her misguided attempts to help actually made the situation worse.
  • The project was ultimately unsuccessful due to misguided planning.
mislead

Used when someone is intentionally given false information or impressions, causing them to believe something that is not true. This often implies deceit or manipulation.

  • The advertisement was designed to mislead consumers about the product’s benefits.
  • He misled his parents into thinking he was studying by turning off the video game sound.
misdirect

Used when someone is given wrong instructions or guidance, typically in a way that leads them in the wrong direction.

  • The GPS misdirected us, and we ended up on the wrong side of town.
  • Her efforts were misdirected, focusing on irrelevant tasks.
confuse

Used when someone is unable to think clearly or understands something wrongly because it is complex or unclear.

  • The complicated instructions are likely to confuse many people.
  • His speech was so technical that it confused the audience.

Examples of usage

  • The false signs misguided the travelers and caused them to take the wrong path.
  • The outdated map misguided the hikers and they ended up getting lost.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

  • People often rely on cognitive biases, like confirmation bias, which can lead to misguided beliefs.
  • Emotions can significantly cloud judgment, making people overly optimistic or pessimistic about their decisions.
  • Social influence, such as peer pressure, can also cause individuals to feel misguided, following others instead of their own values.

Literature

  • Various characters in literature find themselves misguided by their desires or ambitions, leading to tragic outcomes, such as in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'.
  • In many stories, a common theme is the journey from misguided actions to personal growth, such as in 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens.
  • Authors often explore the concept of misguided intentions, illustrating how well-meaning actions can result in harm.

Pop Culture

  • Movies often depict characters who are misguided in their choices, such as teen dramas where friends lead each other astray.
  • Popular songs frequently touch on themes of misguided love or relationships, highlighting emotional turmoil.
  • Reality TV showcases many instances of misguided advice where contestants face the consequences of poor guidance.

Education

  • In educational settings, students may be misguided by misconceptions, which teachers work to correct through evidence-based learning.
  • Misguided learning strategies, like cramming, can hinder long-term understanding and retention of knowledge.
  • Teachers play a crucial role in guiding students effectively to avoid common pitfalls in their educational journey.

Origin of 'misguided'

Main points about word origin

  • The prefix 'mis-' means incorrectly or wrongly, while 'guided' comes from 'guide', which means to show the way.
  • The word has been used since the 17th century to describe poor or wrong guidance.
  • Similar words include 'mistaken' and 'misled', both indicating a deviation from the correct path.

The word 'misguided' originated from the combination of 'mis-' meaning 'wrongly' and 'guide' meaning 'lead or direct'. It first appeared in the early 17th century. The concept of being misguided has been explored in various literary works, highlighting the consequences of faulty judgement and the importance of seeking accurate information.

See also: guidability, guidance, guide, guidebook, guided, guideline, guidelines, guideposts, guides, guiding, misguidance, misguide.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,712, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.