misconstrue
verb
mis·con·strue
ˌmis-kən-ˈstrü 
misconstrued; misconstruing
1
: to interpret (something, such as a statement or action) wrongly : misinterpret
misconstrued her words/meaning/silence
He does not want his real name used in the newspaper because even the most innocent statement could be misconstrued here and lead to trouble, he says.—
Lynne Duke
Lynne DukeI instantly turned away, lest he should see and misconstrue my emotion.—Anne Brontë
Anne Brontë2
: to misinterpret the meaning, intention, or character of (someone)
… it is the post-Vietnam revisionists who have most ironically misconstrued [Herman] Melville.—Frederick Crews
Frederick Crews… a sad sack whom no one would misconstrue as charming.—Karen Karbo
Karen Karbo
Synonyms
Examples of misconstrue in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some Hawaiian cultural experts say aloha is a complex and fluid idea, too often misconstrued as a sweet and servile way of tolerating visitors.
—Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2023
But that nuanced perspective and her contention that her views are being misconstrued are being overwhelmed by an onslaught from the Montgomery Steppe camp.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Nov. 2023
During the trial, Pete gave tearful testimony about how the story had been misconstrued to center her as the villain.
—Jonah Valdez, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2023
In this time, it’s said that communication is often misconstrued, from misunderstandings with family and partners to even tech problems.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 15 Sep. 2023
Her approach to undertaking potentially controversial work like advising the U.S. government was to manage the things that critics might misconstrue.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2023
Alicia Keys has clarified a post on social media after receiving backlash from some who misconstrued it as being in support of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
—Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 17 Oct. 2023
Black women’s search for accountability after violence has occurred often gets misconstrued as attacks on the character of Black men at large.
—Claretta Bellamy, NBC News, 18 Sep. 2023
These products are not to be misconstrued with compounded forms of their base molecules.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 24 Sep. 2023
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Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2023
But that nuanced perspective and her contention that her views are being misconstrued are being overwhelmed by an onslaught from the Montgomery Steppe camp.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Nov. 2023
During the trial, Pete gave tearful testimony about how the story had been misconstrued to center her as the villain.
—Jonah Valdez, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2023
In this time, it’s said that communication is often misconstrued, from misunderstandings with family and partners to even tech problems.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 15 Sep. 2023
Her approach to undertaking potentially controversial work like advising the U.S. government was to manage the things that critics might misconstrue.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2023
Alicia Keys has clarified a post on social media after receiving backlash from some who misconstrued it as being in support of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
—Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 17 Oct. 2023
Black women’s search for accountability after violence has occurred often gets misconstrued as attacks on the character of Black men at large.
—Claretta Bellamy, NBC News, 18 Sep. 2023
These products are not to be misconstrued with compounded forms of their base molecules.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 24 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'misconstrue.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of misconstrue was
in the 15th century
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Cite this Entry
“Misconstrue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misconstrue. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
misconstrue
verb
mis·con·strue
ˌmis-kən-ˈstrü
: to construe wrongly : misinterpret
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