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 But emphasizing misleading stats risks overshadowing the need to allocate resources for interventions where numbers are much higher. Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 29 Sep. 2025 Trump’s executive order pushes broader federal payment reforms This year, the IRS also reported a surge in questionable refund claims fueled by misleading social media posts and fraudulent practices. Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025 Indeed, according to the inspector general, the evidence suggested that, after the article was published, McCabe misled Comey about McCabe’s role in the leak. Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025 Seniors are often seeking to educate themselves and maintain independence, which may lead them to inaccurate or misleading medical information generated by AI. Suzi Morales, Parents, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mislead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mislead
Verb
  • Everton appear locked in a cycle where their starting No 9 flatters to deceive, is left out for the next game, but then the replacement fares little better.
    Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Unfortunately, bank customers aren't always reimbursed when they're hit by some scams, including when they're deceived into making a payment to a con artist, such as in a romance scam.
    Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Super blue moons can also occur, but don’t be fooled by the name.
    Callum Sutherland, Time, 6 Oct. 2025
  • But don't let the name fool you — this Matlock isn't a straight remake of the '80s legal drama starring Andy Griffith.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But in addition to his reputation as a womanizer, Casanova was also a con man, a skilled liar who came from a family of actors and who over the course of his life manipulated and tricked countless people to maintain wealth and status.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Malware has evolved to target macOS more aggressively than ever and many attacks now rely on tricking users rather than breaking through security software.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mislead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mislead. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on mislead

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