Synonyms of misleading

misleading 1 of 2

adjective

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

• deceptive
• false
• incorrect
• deceiving
• deceitful
• specious
• fallacious
• ambiguous
• delusive
• inaccurate
• beguiling
• delusory
• deluding
• fraudulent
• subtle
• perplexing
• dishonest
• trick
• puzzling
• tricky
• wrong
• cunning
• confounding
• crooked
• untruthful
• sneaky
• mendacious
• distracting
• lying
• wily
• untrustworthy
• slick
• shifty
• underhanded
• duplicitous
• artful
• crafty
• sly
• treacherous
• shady
• foxy
• subtile
• devious
• bogus
• spurious
• insidious
• underhand
• evasive
• bewildering
• counterfeit
• faithless
• artificial
• trickish
• fake
• hypocritical
• perfidious
• forged
• guileful
• equivocal
• insincere
• phony
• sham
• feigned
• dissembling
• ambidextrous
• defrauding
• knavish
• jive
• circuitous
• sneaking
• backhanded
• fast
• double-dealing
• two-faced
• left-handed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• straightforward
• forthright
• direct
• plain
• frank
• open
• candid
• straight
• outspoken
• nondeceptive
• illuminating
• explanatory
• aboveboard
• revealing
• clarifying
• truthful
• revelatory
• plainspoken
• honest
• openhearted
• trustworthy
• free-spoken
• elucidative
• foursquare

misleading

2 of 2

verb

present participle of mislead

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deceiving
• tricking
• fooling
• misguiding
• misinforming
• kidding
• teasing
• deluding
• duping
• bamboozling
• beguiling
• suckering
• gulling
• hoaxing
• hoodwinking
• cheating
• humbugging
• bluffing
• stinging
• sucking in
• conning
• juggling
• spoofing
• cozening
• stringing along
• snookering
• taking in
• gaffing
• snowing
• faking out
• catching
• gammoning
• burning
• having on
• having
• hornswoggling
• buffaloing
• doing a number on
• pulling one's leg
• leading one down the garden path
• pulling the wool over one's eyes
• defrauding
• shortchanging
• swindling
• flimflamming
• sticking
• putting on
• fleecing
• bleeding
• mulcting
• hustling
• rooking
• diddling
• chiseling
• squeezing
• euchring
• skinning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• revealing
• exposing
• debunking
• uncovering
• disclosing
• telling
• unmasking
• showing up
• undeceiving
• divulging
• disillusioning
• unveiling
• disabusing
• uncloaking
• disenchanting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of misleading

Adjective

Blanche is also confronting growing distrust of the Justice Department among judges, who in multiple cases have accused government lawyers of withholding information or misleading courts. — Alanna Durkin Richer, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Both made misleading statements when questioned by authorities, according to the lawsuit. — Chase Jordan august 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026

Keep Florida Clean rallied against Amendment 3, paying millions for ads about the dangers of marijuana that were often misleading. — Justin Garcia, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

Mosseri was grilled by prosecutors for a misleading blog post on the uptake of a feature reminding young users to take breaks. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026

Also consider how many capsules a serving is, as this can sometimes be misleading. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026

However, research has shown that much of the evidence about the return on investment of adult literacy programs can be misleading. — Jennifer D. Kobrin, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026

This is where anthropomorphic language becomes particularly misleading. — Hamilton Mann, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Earlier this month, a judge said the entire mess was too misleading to put before voters. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026

Verb

The investigations hinge on whether the company provided incomplete or misleading information to shareholders. — Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Beyond balancing your hormones, these can be some of the most effective ways to manage endometriosis, but as the opportunity grows, so does the potential for misinformation and misleading claims. — Bella Webb, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026

The attorneys general also accused the social media giant of misleading the public about the risks its platforms posed to young people. — Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

The suit alleged that Meta designed Instagram with intentionally addictive features and exposed younger users to serious mental harm while misleading the public about the platform’s safety. — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026

Kennedy has a history of casting doubts on vaccines and spreading misleading claims about their safety and efficacy. — Stephanie Stahl, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026

California was among dozens of states that sued Meta in 2023, alleging in a lawsuit that the social media giant intentionally designed harmful and addictive features to hook children while misleading the public about the dangers. — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Evidence presented at the trial showed Dillman and a co-conspirator raised funds from investors by misleading them about the capabilities and profitability of Block Bits Capital, authorities said. — Jason Green, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026

That is inaccurate, not what the investigation covers, and viral posts on X are misleading people either through incompetence or purposefully misleading information. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026