as in misguided
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of misdirected
The novelist Naomi Alderman recently wrote about how the thing that keeps drawing us back to our phones is actually a misdirected desire to learn.
—
Richard Godwin, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
Everyone in the book suffers from unreturned or misdirected love.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Effective leaders understand that the humans-versus-AI debate can be well-intended but misdirected.
—John M. Bremen, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Even with smart investing, without the right systems in place to transfer this wealth, wealth that took generations to build can be lost, misdirected, or fumbled entirely.
—Essence, 14 Jan. 2026
Weiss' defenders have blasted the show's staff as insubordinate and misdirected.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Dec. 2025
Sponsor is not responsible for any lost, late, misdirected, illegible, incomplete, mutilated, postage due or mechanically reproduced Entries or Entries that have been tampered with or not obtained through legitimate channels, all of which will be disqualified.
—Vogue, 13 Oct. 2025
Excessive and misdirected use of artificial light is more common in cities and can have a huge effect on the visibility of the night sky, particularly for those stargazers who are looking to observe faint deep sky objects with some of the best telescopes.
—Harry Bennett, Space.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Analysis and debate about the ongoing health-care crisis emphasize misdirected funding rather than considering how to revitalize the ethics of medicine.
—David Marks, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2025
Richard Godwin, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
Everyone in the book suffers from unreturned or misdirected love.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Effective leaders understand that the humans-versus-AI debate can be well-intended but misdirected.
—John M. Bremen, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Even with smart investing, without the right systems in place to transfer this wealth, wealth that took generations to build can be lost, misdirected, or fumbled entirely.
—Essence, 14 Jan. 2026
Weiss' defenders have blasted the show's staff as insubordinate and misdirected.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Dec. 2025
Sponsor is not responsible for any lost, late, misdirected, illegible, incomplete, mutilated, postage due or mechanically reproduced Entries or Entries that have been tampered with or not obtained through legitimate channels, all of which will be disqualified.
—Vogue, 13 Oct. 2025
Excessive and misdirected use of artificial light is more common in cities and can have a huge effect on the visibility of the night sky, particularly for those stargazers who are looking to observe faint deep sky objects with some of the best telescopes.
—Harry Bennett, Space.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Analysis and debate about the ongoing health-care crisis emphasize misdirected funding rather than considering how to revitalize the ethics of medicine.
—David Marks, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misdirected
Adjective
-
However, in a misguided attempt to cover up Kay’s involvement, Pete shot Roy’s body.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Mar. 2026
-
That optimism may be a bit misguided, considering the history of emerging sports league misfires.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Arrests have proven to be ineffective at stopping drug use, instead heightening risk of overdose and death.—
Grey Gardner,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
-
What began as a minor irritation turned into a yearlong medical odyssey marked by the lack of a diagnosis, ineffective treatments, and compounding side effects—all while costs escalated.—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
No motive has been cited for the assault by the woman who the Times reported had several prior arrests in her home state, including a bankruptcy case in 2013, an arrest for careless driving in 2021 and another arrest in 2023 on suspicion of domestic violence and battery.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Ortiz has been arrested several times in Florida in the past, including for bankruptcy, suspicion of careless driving, and suspicion of domestic violence and battery.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Ament’s lawyers are now pushing to withdraw his guilty plea, saying he’d been ill-advised by his previous counsel.—
Victoria Le,
Oc Register,
28 Feb. 2026
-
But his goalie interference penalty in the opening period was ill-advised.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misdirected.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misdirected. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
