misinterpret

verb

mis·​in·​ter·​pret ˌmi-sᵊn-ˈtər-prət How to pronounce misinterpret (audio)
-pət
misinterpreted; misinterpreting; misinterprets
Synonyms of misinterpretnext

transitive verb

1
: to explain wrongly
His comment on the speech misinterprets the speaker's meaning.
2
: to understand wrongly
Their silence should not be misinterpreted as consent.

Examples of misinterpret in a Sentence

He claims that his statements have been misinterpreted by the media. Her silence should not be misinterpreted as consent.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Without it, the model can misinterpret complex visual cues. Joanna Goodrich, IEEE Spectrum, 31 Dec. 2025 If the brain misinterprets signals from the body, or if those signals are faulty, the brain may send out commands that cause harm. The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2025 Over and over again, providers frequently misinterpret the presence of white blood cells or pyuria as indicative of infection and prescribe antibiotics just in case. Neil Gaffin, STAT, 29 Dec. 2025 Well-meaning support could easily be misinterpreted as interference, even when the intention was simply to listen. Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for misinterpret

Word History

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of misinterpret was in 1547

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Cite this Entry

“Misinterpret.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misinterpret. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

misinterpret

verb
mis·​in·​ter·​pret ˌmis-ᵊn-ˈtər-prət How to pronounce misinterpret (audio)
-pət
: to understand or explain wrongly
misinterpretation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on misinterpret

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