misconstrue

USAGE SUMMARY

The word misconstrue is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the word misconstrue when you want to refer to an interpretation of a statement that is wrong or incorrect. Example sentence: The police misconstrued his statement and arrested him for a crime he didn't commit.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But Mr Zapatero still has work to do to persuade Spain's allies (and enemies) not to misconstrue the withdrawal as a victory for terrorism.

The Economist

Just so I don't misconstrue anything, here's what Mr Barton said this morning:3 50pm: Steve Scalise, a Republican rep from Louisiana, keeps touting a sand barrier plan as if it will unquestionably save his state's shores.

The Economist

"If I went to New York and took a picture of the Statue of Liberty, would my neighbour misconstrue that?" asks Ms Ahwal.

The Economist

So for Justice Sotomayor to argue that Michigan voters have unjustly stripped racial minorities of a right to press for affirmative action is to misconstrue the constitutional basis of these programmes.

The Economist

And, no, rest assured, I didn't misconstrue her remarks.

Independent

"I don't want the [current] players to misconstrue it that they're pencilled in for the World Cup," said Johnson.

Independent

At the very least, it must not tangle with Syria's neighbours, which is almost certainly why Benjamin Netanyahu has just met Putin – to ensure that Israel does not misconstrue the meaning of Russian high altitude planes north-east of Golan.

Independent

"If I make eye contact with him, he might misconstrue that to mean that I want to talk to him," Boehner said.

The New Yorker

He could relate to Kerouac as a young man from a small declining industrial town who had come to New York as a cultural outsider more than twenty years earlier — an unknown bursting with ideas and whom the insiders proceeded either to lionize or to condemn, and, in any case, badly misconstrue.

The New Yorker

But to pretend that a reward is always (or even ever) commensurate with the amount of work one does is to misconstrue how the world works.

The New Yorker

How about "Constitution, Part Two?" (Not a serious pitch, unless you like it!) * * * December 11 , 1791Thomas Jefferson Office of the Secretary of State Dear Tom, There is literally zero chance that anyone will misconstrue this, and the great news is that if someone actually does, the Supreme Court will set them straight.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "misconstrue" when you want to emphasize that an interpretation is not just wrong, but also potentially based on flawed reasoning or bias.

Common error

Avoid using "misconstrue" when the issue is a literal error in translation between languages; "mistranslate" is more appropriate in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The verb "misconstrue" functions as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object to complete its meaning. It describes the action of interpreting something incorrectly. Ludwig shows its common usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "misconstrue" is a verb that means to interpret something incorrectly, often due to flawed reasoning or bias. According to Ludwig AI, "misconstrue" is grammatically correct and readily usable in written English. The examples from Ludwig show its usage across various reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. It's most frequently used in News & Media and Science. When writing, be mindful of situations where "mistranslate" might be more accurate, and ensure clarity in your sentences to prevent unintentional misinterpretations. Related phrases include "misinterpret", "misunderstand", and "misapprehend", offering nuanced alternatives for expressing the concept of incorrect understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

misinterpret

Similar in meaning but focuses on the act of interpreting wrongly.

misunderstand

A more general term for failing to understand correctly.

misapprehend

Implies a failure to grasp the meaning or significance of something.

erroneously interpret

Emphasizes the mistake in the interpretation process.

get the wrong end of the stick

An idiomatic expression for misunderstanding a situation.

take something the wrong way

Focuses on the negative emotional response to a misinterpretation.

draw the wrong conclusion

Focuses on the incorrect inference made from available information.

be under the misapprehension

Highlights the state of having a false understanding.

fail to grasp

Highlights the inability to comprehend a concept or idea.

incorrectly assume

Highlights the unwarranted assumption leading to misunderstanding.

FAQs

How to use "misconstrue" in a sentence?

You can use "misconstrue" to indicate that someone has understood something incorrectly. For example, "He might "misconstrue" my silence as agreement."

What can I say instead of "misconstrue"?

You can use alternatives like "misinterpret", "misunderstand", or "misapprehend" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "misconstrue" or "misconstruct"?

"Misconstrue" is the correct term to use when indicating a wrong interpretation. "Misconstruct" is less common and usually refers to building something poorly.

What's the difference between "misconstrue" and "misunderstand"?

"Misunderstand" is a general term for failing to understand correctly. "Misconstrue" implies a more active and potentially biased interpretation that leads to a wrong understanding.