Synonym Chooser

How does the verb mislead differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of mislead are beguile, deceive, and delude. While all these words mean "to lead astray or frustrate usually by underhandedness," mislead implies a leading astray that may or may not be intentional.

I was misled by the confusing sign

When might beguile be a better fit than mislead?

In some situations, the words beguile and mislead are roughly equivalent. However, beguile stresses the use of charm and persuasion in deceiving.

was beguiled by false promises

When could deceive be used to replace mislead?

While in some cases nearly identical to mislead, deceive implies imposing a false idea or belief that causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness.

tried to deceive me about the cost

In what contexts can delude take the place of mislead?

While the synonyms delude and mislead are close in meaning, delude implies deceiving so thoroughly as to obscure the truth.

we were deluded into thinking we were safe

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 mislead Intentionally claiming otherwise means misleading the lender and breaking the terms of the loan agreement. Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025 Fake accounts, misleading checkmarks and smooth-talking profiles are everywhere, and not everyone knows how to spot them. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2025 Former Superintendent Marty Pollio denies claims that financial reports were altered to mislead the board and public. Krista Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Sep. 2025 Carr argued Kimmel misled viewers about the political affiliation of Tyler Robinson, the suspect charged with murdering Kirk. Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mislead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mislead
Verb
  • The lawsuit, filed by the FTC in June 2023 under the Biden administration, claimed that Amazon deceived tens of millions of customers into signing up for its Prime subscription program and sabotaged their attempts to cancel it.
    Annie Palmer, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025
  • At its worst, AI can be used by bad actors and content farms to confuse or deceive listeners, push ‘slop’ into the ecosystem, and interfere with authentic artists working to build their careers.
    Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Prosecutors told the court the scheme had raised at least $650 million and called it a classic Ponzi structure that fooled even Horwitz’s closest friends.
    Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Don’t let their elegant fancy-restaurant flavors fool you.
    Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In other words, the top search results aren't always safe, and that's exactly how scammers trick people.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025
  • But the content, murky and misleading, is designed to trick Californians into voting for a power grab.
    Laura Koval, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mislead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mislead. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on mislead

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