misdirection
noun
mis·di·rec·tion
ˌmis-də-ˈrek-shən 
-(ˌ)dī-
1
: a wrong direction
2
a
: the act or an instance of misdirecting or diverting
b
: the state of being misdirected
Examples of misdirection in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As so often occurs, the plaintiff’s case against the California law is a melange of misdirection and misrepresentations.
—
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Not by choice, DeMaio also played a role in a bit of misdirection in the San Diego mayor’s race.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024
Wright had a key 29-yard catch on a third-and-1 misdirection play in the third quarter to set up Craig Reynolds' 1-yard touchdown run, but did not play in the fourth quarter.
—Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 22 Jan. 2024
When management officials stand to benefit from a lack of outside scrutiny, subterfuge and misdirection become survival tactics.
—Michael McCaul, National Review, 7 Feb. 2024
Offering bite-sized episodes packed with setups and punchlines, misdirection and callbacks, good farces move fast.
—EW.com, 9 Nov. 2023
Policymakers should not allow themselves to be fooled by this misdirection.
—Chris Griswold, National Review, 18 Dec. 2023
While a clever misdirection, this argument doesn’t hold up.
—Vance Ginn, National Review, 22 Dec. 2023
And like the original 1973 movie, Believer also opens with a bit of exotic misdirection: Instead of Iraq, we’re dropped in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where photographer Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.) and his pregnant wife (Tracey Graves) are enjoying a vacation.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2023
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Not by choice, DeMaio also played a role in a bit of misdirection in the San Diego mayor’s race.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024
Wright had a key 29-yard catch on a third-and-1 misdirection play in the third quarter to set up Craig Reynolds' 1-yard touchdown run, but did not play in the fourth quarter.
—Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 22 Jan. 2024
When management officials stand to benefit from a lack of outside scrutiny, subterfuge and misdirection become survival tactics.
—Michael McCaul, National Review, 7 Feb. 2024
Offering bite-sized episodes packed with setups and punchlines, misdirection and callbacks, good farces move fast.
—EW.com, 9 Nov. 2023
Policymakers should not allow themselves to be fooled by this misdirection.
—Chris Griswold, National Review, 18 Dec. 2023
While a clever misdirection, this argument doesn’t hold up.
—Vance Ginn, National Review, 22 Dec. 2023
And like the original 1973 movie, Believer also opens with a bit of exotic misdirection: Instead of Iraq, we’re dropped in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where photographer Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.) and his pregnant wife (Tracey Graves) are enjoying a vacation.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'misdirection.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near misdirection
Cite this Entry
“Misdirection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misdirection. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share