misrepresent

verb

mis·​rep·​re·​sent (ˌ)mis-ˌre-pri-ˈzent How to pronounce misrepresent (audio)
misrepresented; misrepresenting; misrepresents
Synonyms of misrepresentnext

transitive verb

1
: to give a false or misleading representation of usually with an intent to deceive or be unfair
misrepresented the facts
2
: to serve badly or improperly as a representative of
misrepresentation noun
misrepresentative adjective

Synonyms of misrepresent

Examples of misrepresent in a Sentence

The company is accused of misrepresenting its earnings. The movie deliberately misrepresents the facts about her life.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In a 255-page report, longtime pension writer and financial investigator Ted Siedle accused the California Public Employees’ Retirement System of misrepresenting the amount paid to Wall Street managers and withholding records about the fund’s investments. William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026 But Thomas’s focus on Wilson misrepresents his role in the Progressive movement. Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 21 May 2026 His latest obsession — aired out in part in Red Sheet, his 18th novel, out June 9 — is the Blacklist, which in Ellroy’s estimation was a greatly misunderstood act of flag-waving righteousness that Hollywood has been scandalously misrepresenting ever since. Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 20 May 2026 Researchers and athletes both say that the public conversation has outpaced — and frequently misrepresented — the science, leaving athletes such as Browne to carry the weight of a question far more complex than a hot take. Starre Vartan, CNN Money, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for misrepresent

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of misrepresent was in 1649

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Misrepresent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misrepresent. Accessed 28 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

misrepresent

verb
mis·​rep·​re·​sent (ˌ)mis-ˌrep-ri-ˈzent How to pronounce misrepresent (audio)
: to give a false or misleading idea of
misrepresentation noun

Legal Definition

misrepresent

transitive verb
mis·​rep·​re·​sent mis-ˌre-pri-ˈzent How to pronounce misrepresent (audio)
: to make a misrepresentation about

intransitive verb

: to make a misrepresentation
misrepresentative adjective
misrepresenter noun

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