Misjudge: meaning, definitions and examples

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misjudge

[ˌmɪsˈdʒʌdʒ ]

Definition

^{Context #1 | Verb}

incompetence

To form a wrong opinion or conclusion about someone or something due to lack of understanding or poor judgment.

Synonyms

misconstrue, misinterpret, misperceive, misread.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
misjudge	This word is used when someone forms an incorrect opinion or conclusion about someone or something. She misjudged his character and thought he was dishonest. The company misjudged the market demand and suffered losses.
misinterpret	Used when someone gets the meaning of something wrong, especially with signals, meanings, or data. Often implies errors in understanding things like texts, expressions, or symbols. She misinterpreted the data, leading to incorrect results. He misinterpreted her smile as a sign of interest.
misconstrue	This word is applicable when someone interprets words or actions wrongly. It often involves misunderstanding someone's intentions or statements. His words were misconstrued by the media, leading to a controversy. Don't misconstrue my silence as acceptance.
misread	This is used when one fails to understand the true meaning, intention, or situation, usually by interpreting it wrongly. It can refer to misunderstanding any form of communication. He misread the instructions and assembled the furniture incorrectly. She misread his intentions and thought he was being helpful when he was actually trying to take credit for her work.
misperceive	This term is used when there is a faulty perception of a situation or reality. It implies seeing things in a distorted manner due to wrong assumptions or perspectives. People often misperceive the level of risk in certain activities. He misperceived her actions as aggressive when she was just being assertive.

Examples of usage

He misjudged her abilities and underestimated her potential.
Don't misjudge a situation based on appearances alone.
The coach misjudged the opponent's tactics and made a fatal mistake.
Her harsh words made her misjudge the impact it would have on him.
I hope you don't misjudge me based on this one mistake.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word is formed by combining 'mis-', which means wrong, and 'judge', which refers to making decisions.
First recorded in English around the late 19th century, showing that it’s a relatively modern term.
Originally, the prefix 'mis-' comes from Old English, indicating that people have long had ways to express errors.

Psychology

Cognitive biases often lead people to misjudge others based on limited information or stereotypes.
The Halo Effect is a common phenomenon where one positive trait influences overall judgement, leading to misjudgments.
Research shows that emotions can cloud our ability to judge accurately, often resulting in misjudgments.

Literature

Many classic stories feature characters who misjudge others, leading to conflicts and lessons about understanding and tolerance.
Shakespeare’s plays frequently explore themes of misjudgment, as characters often fail to see the true nature of those around them.
In modern literature, misjudgments highlight the importance of perspective, as characters learn from their mistakes.

Pop Culture

Movies often center around characters misjudging each other, such as in romantic comedies where misunderstandings create drama.
Social media can amplify misjudgements, as people form opinions based on short glimpses into others' lives.
Reality TV frequently highlights how contestants misjudge each other, leading to unexpected outcomes.

Social Dynamics

Misjudgments in social situations can lead to conflicts, misunderstandings, and even the breakdown of relationships.
Group dynamics can cause individuals to misshape their opinions about others based on peer influence and groupthink.
Learning environments, like schools, often tackle misjudgments to foster inclusivity and understanding among students.

Translations

Translations of the word "misjudge" in other languages:

🇵🇹 julgar mal

🇮🇳 गलत समझना

🇩🇪 falsch beurteilen

🇮🇩 salah menilai

🇺🇦 помилково судити

🇵🇱 źle oceniać

🇯🇵 誤解する (ごかいする)

🇫🇷 mal juger

🇪🇸 juzgar mal

🇹🇷 yanlış yargılamak

🇰🇷 오판하다

🇸🇦 يخطئ الحكم

🇨🇿 nesprávně posoudit

🇸🇰 nesprávne posúdiť

🇨🇳 误判 (wùpàn)

🇸🇮 napačno presoditi

🇮🇸 rangt dæma

🇰🇿 қате бағалау

🇬🇪 არასწორად განსჯა

🇦🇿 səhv mühakimə etmək

🇲🇽 juzgar mal

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #33,612 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

...
33609 nab
33610 prefabrication
33611 congeniality
33612 misjudge
33613 medusae
33614 vintner
33615 asphyxiated
...