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
The number of people who have it could be much higher because many are repeatedly misdiagnosed, said cardiologist Dr. Jonathan Salik, who runs the pericarditis disease program at Massachusetts General Hospital.
—Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Some cases of late-life depression or bipolar disorder might actually be the earliest phase of a neurodegenerative illness — one that’s currently misdiagnosed as purely psychiatric.
—Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 9 June 2025
But researchers fear the infection has been overlooked or misdiagnosed, since physicians haven’t had a reason to check for it.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 May 2025
Because the disorder is not well known to the public, many patients experience a delay in diagnosis and may be misdiagnosed with gastric reflux or allergies.
—Indu Subramanian, The Conversation, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for misdiagnose
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Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Some cases of late-life depression or bipolar disorder might actually be the earliest phase of a neurodegenerative illness — one that’s currently misdiagnosed as purely psychiatric.
—Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 9 June 2025
But researchers fear the infection has been overlooked or misdiagnosed, since physicians haven’t had a reason to check for it.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 May 2025
Because the disorder is not well known to the public, many patients experience a delay in diagnosis and may be misdiagnosed with gastric reflux or allergies.
—Indu Subramanian, The Conversation, 1 May 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 13 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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