misrepresent

verb

mis·​rep·​re·​sent (ˌ)mis-ˌre-pri-ˈzent How to pronounce misrepresent (audio)
misrepresented; misrepresenting; misrepresents
Synonyms of misrepresentnext

transitive verb

1
: to give a false or misleading representation of usually with an intent to deceive or be unfair
misrepresented the facts
2
: to serve badly or improperly as a representative of
misrepresentation noun
misrepresentative adjective

Synonyms of misrepresent

Examples of misrepresent in a Sentence

The company is accused of misrepresenting its earnings. The movie deliberately misrepresents the facts about her life.
Recent Examples on the Web
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For example, Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act prohibits unfair or deceptive trade practices, including failing to honor refund promises or misrepresenting return procedures. Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 8 May 2026 Those who intentionally concealed their criminal histories or misrepresented themselves during the naturalization process will face the fullest extent of the law. Laura Romero, ABC News, 8 May 2026 To be inclusive, media content and communication messages should include a wider variety of people than has been standard in the past, and more awareness of the framing or portrayal of people, especially minority groups who have been misrepresented or underrepresented. Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026 The trial marks the second phase of ⁠New Mexico’s lawsuit after a jury in March found Meta violated the state’s consumer protection law by misrepresenting the safety ​of Facebook and Instagram for young users and ordered the company to pay $375 million in damages. Reuters, NBC news, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for misrepresent

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of misrepresent was in 1649

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Cite this Entry

“Misrepresent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misrepresent. Accessed 14 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

misrepresent

verb
mis·​rep·​re·​sent (ˌ)mis-ˌrep-ri-ˈzent How to pronounce misrepresent (audio)
: to give a false or misleading idea of
misrepresentation noun

Legal Definition

misrepresent

transitive verb
mis·​rep·​re·​sent mis-ˌre-pri-ˈzent How to pronounce misrepresent (audio)
: to make a misrepresentation about

intransitive verb

: to make a misrepresentation
misrepresentative adjective
misrepresenter noun

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