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

The solution to the clues was simple and obvious after a lot of misdirection and red herrings — just like every Scooby Doo episode. —Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026

But even if the reveal is so anticlimactic as to be more of a misdirection than a murder, a good one will leave us with a singular moment that emotionally resonates. —Andy Andersen, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026

Writer-director Rian Johnson works his misdirection magic, and Wake Up Dead Man is just as satisfying as Knives Out (2019) and Glass Onion (2022). —James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026

Some magicians talk to the audience as a form of misdirection, which sounds like a logical strategy, at first glance. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for misdirection

• circumspection
• disaffection
• disconnection
• disinfection
• dorsiflexion
• imperfection
• indirection
• insurrection
• intellection
• interjection
• intersection
• introjection