misguide

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'misguide' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who leads another person in the wrong direction, either literally or metaphorically. For example, "The teacher misguided his students by giving them the wrong information about the upcoming exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

For one thing, "The Paperboy" embraces everything the year's more tasteful films carefully avoided: lust, sex and all the mad desires that guide (or misguide) so many of our actions.

The New York Times - Magazine

The man's intoxication caused him not only to misguide the plane, but also to become "hyperactive" and give instructions to the captain, actions that were "one of the factors" in the crash, the report said.

The New York Times

Based on a Hispanic folk tale, this puppet production from Shadow Box Theater, closing on Friday, shows how Raton helps subvert a plot by the royal horses, who are so envious of the camels' gift-bearing role that they persuade the fireflies to misguide the kings with a false star.

The New York Times - Arts

At times it fails to learn from its mistakes and is maybe misguide.

The New York Times

He who Allah guides no one can misguide.

The Guardian - Books

In Sense and Sensibility, a tale of thwarted love, a girl's headstrong feelings misguide her.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Mr. Glassner's latest book, "The Gospel of Food: Everything You Think You Know About Food is Wrong" (Ecco/HarperCollins $25.95), posits that misguided (and misguiding) gospelmongers are persuading Americans to eat according to ever more irrational notions and sillier motivations.

The New York Times

Teachers would tell me that other teachers were misguiding me, and I began to perceive a hidden web of personal agendas and resentments.

The New Yorker

But after a weeklong journey through Sicily with a mercurial GPS misguiding us across the unfamiliar island, we both needed an aperitivo first.

The New York Times - Travel

"Why is the chief minister making so much noise and misguiding the people?" she asked.

The New York Times

At 15 she started singing in a duo with a woman called Simone Berteaut, who was destined to become her misguiding spirit.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "misguide" to imply a deviation from a correct path or understanding, whether intentional or unintentional.

Common error

Avoid using "misguide" when you simply mean to guide. "Misguide" always implies leading someone in the wrong direction, so ensure the context supports this negative connotation.

Linguistic Context

The verb "misguide" primarily functions to describe the act of leading someone in the wrong direction or giving them incorrect information. Ludwig AI validates this usage, providing examples where "misguide" is used to depict flawed guidance, be it intentional or unintentional.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "misguide" is a verb used to describe the act of leading someone astray or providing incorrect guidance. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. It is commonly found in news and media contexts, with a neutral register, suitable for various writing styles. When using "misguide", it's important to clearly indicate who is being misguided and the nature of the flawed guidance, ensuring the context aligns with the negative connotation of leading someone in the wrong direction. Common synonyms include "mislead" and "lead astray".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mislead

This is a direct synonym, indicating guidance in the wrong direction or with false information.

misinform

This stresses the act of providing inaccurate or incomplete information.

lead astray

This alternative emphasizes the act of leading someone away from the correct path or moral behavior.

steer wrong

This conveys the idea of guiding someone or something in an incorrect direction.

give false direction

This emphasizes the act of giving incorrect instructions or orientation.

deceive

This focuses on the intentional act of misleading someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth.

delude

This implies causing someone to believe something that is not true, leading to a misguided belief.

give wrong information

This clarifies the act of misguiding by specifying that incorrect details are being provided.

bad advice

This phrase places the emphasis on the quality of advice being offered.

distort the truth

This suggests an alteration or twisting of facts, leading to a misguided understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "misguide" in a sentence?

You can use "misguide" to describe someone or something that leads another person in the wrong direction. For example, "The faulty map misguided the hikers, leading them deeper into the forest."

What is a synonym for "misguide"?

Synonyms for "misguide" include "mislead", "deceive", and "lead astray". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "misguide" a formal word?

"Misguide" is a neutral word, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of your writing.

What's the difference between "misguide" and "guide"?

"Guide" means to lead or direct someone along a path, whereas "misguide" means to lead them in the wrong direction. The key difference is the outcome of the guidance: correct versus incorrect.