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
While just 250 cases were reported to the CDC from 2012-2021, the symptoms — high fevers, chills, nausea — can be often misdiagnosed as influenza, COVID-19, even malaria, says Job Lopez, a tick researcher at Baylor College of Medicine.
—Pien Huang, NPR, 23 June 2025
Girls and women have, until recently, been underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other mood disorders that are symptoms of underlying ADHD.
—New Atlas, 23 June 2025
The consequences are both deeply personal and widely systemic: Women are more likely to be misdiagnosed, experience adverse drug reactions, and face delays in care.
—Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
One major study found that nearly 1 in 10 strokes are misdiagnosed — often as migraines, vertigo, intoxication, or anxiety.
—Sean C. Domnick, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for misdiagnose
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Pien Huang, NPR, 23 June 2025
Girls and women have, until recently, been underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other mood disorders that are symptoms of underlying ADHD.
—New Atlas, 23 June 2025
The consequences are both deeply personal and widely systemic: Women are more likely to be misdiagnosed, experience adverse drug reactions, and face delays in care.
—Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
One major study found that nearly 1 in 10 strokes are misdiagnosed — often as migraines, vertigo, intoxication, or anxiety.
—Sean C. Domnick, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 June 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 4 Jul. 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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