as in deceptive
tending or having power to deceive
the misleading text of the advertisement would like you to believe that you're getting something for nothing
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in deceiving
to cause to believe what is untrue
the coral snake's attractive colors can mislead you into thinking that it is harmless
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of misleading
Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 1 Mar. 2026
Hartsuch, a proponent of using ivermectin to treat COVID-19, alleges that in December 2021, Kent Nebel, then the executive director of the Board of Medicine, indicated that 17 Iowa doctors had complaints filed against them for spreading false or misleading information about COVID-19.
—Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 28 Feb. 2026
Both assertions are false, misleading, and entirely unsupported by the record.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
The challenge for policymakers will be to curb misleading promotion without cutting off patients’ access to reliable information or undermining their role in directing their own care – and that will likely require addressing broader issues in the health care system.
—Anna Chorniy, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2026
Going beyond that to advertise board certification in specialties could be considered misleading.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
These inaccurate or misleading physician directories have for years been an obstacle for patients seeking in-network providers and have even led some to pay large sums out of pocket, or to delay or forgo care.
—Kate Snow, NBC news, 25 Feb. 2026
This is incredibly misleading, dishonest and self-serving.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
The companies said at the time the documents paint a misleading picture of their platforms and safety efforts.
—Cnn, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Feb. 2026
In a challenge that began in 2018, the city and surrounding county claim the companies violated state law by misleading the public about the environmental effects of fossil fuels and should have to help cover costs incurred by the community from climate change.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
The mayor is gaslighting the public to make his case by using misleading statistics.
—Paul Francis, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
The poll’s methods were misleading but earned countless headlines nonetheless.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026
The social media giant is facing trials in both California and New Mexico that accuse Meta of misleading the public about the safety of apps like Instagram.
—Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026
Consumers also reported the sale of misleading exercise club memberships that promise discounts or amenities that never materialized.
—Lee Rood, Des Moines Register, 20 Feb. 2026
This includes spammy articles, recycled videos, misleading thumbnails and content created without real value.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Feb. 2026
In his counterclaims against Stalcup, the former analyst accused of stealing and doctoring documents alleges the 2023 capital calls used misleading statements to get people to pitch in.
—Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
These false or misleading statements are characteristic of politicians with questionable integrity who are willing to say anything for political gain.
—Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 1 Mar. 2026
Hartsuch, a proponent of using ivermectin to treat COVID-19, alleges that in December 2021, Kent Nebel, then the executive director of the Board of Medicine, indicated that 17 Iowa doctors had complaints filed against them for spreading false or misleading information about COVID-19.
—Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 28 Feb. 2026
Both assertions are false, misleading, and entirely unsupported by the record.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
The challenge for policymakers will be to curb misleading promotion without cutting off patients’ access to reliable information or undermining their role in directing their own care – and that will likely require addressing broader issues in the health care system.
—Anna Chorniy, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2026
Going beyond that to advertise board certification in specialties could be considered misleading.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
These inaccurate or misleading physician directories have for years been an obstacle for patients seeking in-network providers and have even led some to pay large sums out of pocket, or to delay or forgo care.
—Kate Snow, NBC news, 25 Feb. 2026
This is incredibly misleading, dishonest and self-serving.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
The companies said at the time the documents paint a misleading picture of their platforms and safety efforts.
—Cnn, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
Opened in 1881, Edinburgh’s oldest hotel comprises five Georgian townhouses built in the 18th century in the city’s somewhat-misleading-sounding New Town.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Feb. 2026
In a challenge that began in 2018, the city and surrounding county claim the companies violated state law by misleading the public about the environmental effects of fossil fuels and should have to help cover costs incurred by the community from climate change.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
The mayor is gaslighting the public to make his case by using misleading statistics.
—Paul Francis, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
The poll’s methods were misleading but earned countless headlines nonetheless.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026
The social media giant is facing trials in both California and New Mexico that accuse Meta of misleading the public about the safety of apps like Instagram.
—Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026
Consumers also reported the sale of misleading exercise club memberships that promise discounts or amenities that never materialized.
—Lee Rood, Des Moines Register, 20 Feb. 2026
This includes spammy articles, recycled videos, misleading thumbnails and content created without real value.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Feb. 2026
In his counterclaims against Stalcup, the former analyst accused of stealing and doctoring documents alleges the 2023 capital calls used misleading statements to get people to pitch in.
—Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misleading
Adjective
-
The felony charges are forgery and deceptive or fraudulent business practices.—
Michael Guise,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
All clever touches and deceptive movement, this was the Eze Arsenal couldn’t bear to miss out on.—
Amy Lawrence,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Neglecting The Kitchen Sink Your sink may look spick-and-span, but looks can be deceiving.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
-
But a superficial comparison between Delta, United, and American across certain headline metrics can be deceiving.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But Republicans are worried that the popular but scandal-plagued Paxton could eventually win the primary, boosting Democrats’ chances of finally flipping the seat blue after decades of false hope.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Feb. 2026
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That same user later posted another video acknowledging police’s statement about the false rumors, which only has about 3,000 views.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Or, in other words, tricking them by holding up a sign.—
Adam Ismail,
The Drive,
26 Feb. 2026
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Prompt injection is a method of tricking LLMs into doing things they are normally prevented from doing.—
Bruce Schneier,
IEEE Spectrum,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Indeed, depth would only get in the way of the plot, which is primarily concerned with fooling you and fooling you again.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Watching Bedard break ankles on a nightly basis like Allen Iverson on skates, attempting one-man rushes most players couldn’t even fathom, fooling elite goaltenders with his patented drag-and-drive release, is exhilarating.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misleading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misleading. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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