misdiagnose
verb
mis·di·ag·nose
ˌmis-ˈdī-ig-ˌnōs 
-ˌnōz,
ˌdī-ig-ˈnōs,
-ˈnōz,
-əg-
misdiagnosed; misdiagnosing
: to diagnose (someone or something) incorrectly
… babesiosis is often missed or misdiagnosed as malaria or flu.—
Linda Marsa
Linda MarsaThe researchers added that children with this disease are often misdiagnosed and thus inappropriately treated …—Jane E. Brody
Jane E. BrodyExamples of misdiagnose in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Given these challenges, many lung cancer patients die misdiagnosed, and their real cause of death is rarely known, given poor infrastructure to certify deaths and their causes.
—Simar Bajaj, NPR, 12 Aug. 2025
However, there is a misconception that CRPS is a mental rather than physical illness, and women who seek care for CRPS symptoms are frequently misdiagnosed with mental health disorders, such as depression or anxiety.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 28 July 2025
As a result, men are more likely to express depression through irritability, anger or substance abuse, often going undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
—Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2025
To ignore these structural forces, Wilson suggests, is to misdiagnose the problem—and to risk prescribing the wrong solutions.
—Idrees Kahloon, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for misdiagnose
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Simar Bajaj, NPR, 12 Aug. 2025
However, there is a misconception that CRPS is a mental rather than physical illness, and women who seek care for CRPS symptoms are frequently misdiagnosed with mental health disorders, such as depression or anxiety.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 28 July 2025
As a result, men are more likely to express depression through irritability, anger or substance abuse, often going undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
—Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2025
To ignore these structural forces, Wilson suggests, is to misdiagnose the problem—and to risk prescribing the wrong solutions.
—Idrees Kahloon, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for misdiagnose
Cite this Entry
“Misdiagnose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misdiagnose. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
misdiagnose
transitive verb
mis·di·ag·nose
(ˈ)mis-ˈdī-ig-ˌnōs, -ˌnōz
misdiagnosed; misdiagnosing
: to diagnose incorrectly
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