misconstrue

verb

mis·​con·​strue ˌmis-kən-ˈstrü 

misconstrued; misconstruing

transitive verb

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

I instantly turned away, lest he should see and misconstrue my emotion.

—Anne Brontë

2

: to misinterpret the meaning, intention, or character of (someone)

… it is the post-Vietnam revisionists who have most ironically misconstrued [Herman] Melville.

—Frederick Crews

… a sad sack whom no one would misconstrue as charming.

—Karen Karbo

Synonyms

• misapprehend
• misinterpret
• misknow
• misperceive
• misread
• miss
• mistake
• misunderstand

Examples of misconstrue in a Sentence

claimed that the press had misconstrued her comments

Recent Examples on the Web

Managers inherently possess authority, creating a power dynamic that may lead to misunderstandings where assertive management is misconstrued as bullying, especially if employees feel unsupported. —Jason Walker, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024

Fubo insists the defendants are misconstruing its argument and citing inapplicable precedent. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Aug. 2024

So although China’s rise carries real challenges for the United States, its allies, and its partners, the threat should not be misconstrued. —Thomas J. Christensen, Foreign Affairs, 24 Mar. 2021

Stefanik’s resolution condemning Harris deliberately misconstrues the facts of this global shift. —Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 28 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

misconstrue

verb

mis·​con·​strue

ˌmis-kən-ˈstrü

: to construe wrongly : misinterpret