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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of misleading
Anniek Bao, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2025
In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Hinton challenged the optimistic visions promoted by Silicon Valley leaders, suggesting that much of the upbeat narrative about AI’s societal benefits is, at best, misleading.
—Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
The first week of the NFL season can often be misleading.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
Shelter performance data in the annual report has been found to be erroneous and highly misleading.
—Michael Wagner, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
Yet to claim there is no choice is misleading.
—Israel Melendez Ayala, Time, 16 Sep. 2025
Students are encouraged to choose one of these economic systems — based on these misleading definitions — and defend their choice.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
Kirk was criticized for spreading misinformation, such as false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election and misleading statements about COVID-19 vaccines and mask mandates.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
If those providing the input don't truly understand the information, the results can be misleading and even harmful.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2025
To back the need for more stringent list maintenance, many of those groups have pushed misleading information about widespread fraud in elections.
—Miles Parks, NPR, 17 Sep. 2025
Memory poisoning, for instance, can sneak in misleading data into an agent's long-term memory, quietly influencing how these systems make decisions.
—Steve Durbin, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
In a memorandum signed on Tuesday, the President ordered federal health agencies to enforce existing rules about misleading prescription drug advertisements.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
According to Adair, marketing can link protein to misleading promises about appearance and contribute to poor self-esteem.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 9 Sep. 2025
After tragedies or natural disasters, fake nonprofits or misleading crowdfunding campaigns pop up online, siphoning donations away from legitimate causes.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
In a world where images are so numerous and so difficult to understand, truth itself can be in danger, threatened by false interpretations and distorted, misleading half-truths.
—Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Researchers caution consumers to be wary of misleading advertising on cereal boxes and to check nutrition labels.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Trump has initiated a flurry of defamation lawsuits against media companies, accusing them of false or misleading coverage.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2025
In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Hinton challenged the optimistic visions promoted by Silicon Valley leaders, suggesting that much of the upbeat narrative about AI’s societal benefits is, at best, misleading.
—Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
The first week of the NFL season can often be misleading.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
Shelter performance data in the annual report has been found to be erroneous and highly misleading.
—Michael Wagner, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
Yet to claim there is no choice is misleading.
—Israel Melendez Ayala, Time, 16 Sep. 2025
Students are encouraged to choose one of these economic systems — based on these misleading definitions — and defend their choice.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
Kirk was criticized for spreading misinformation, such as false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election and misleading statements about COVID-19 vaccines and mask mandates.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
If those providing the input don't truly understand the information, the results can be misleading and even harmful.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
Growing pains at American Shaman The rapid growth was accompanied by lawsuits over loose compliance and misleading marketing claims.
—Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2025
To back the need for more stringent list maintenance, many of those groups have pushed misleading information about widespread fraud in elections.
—Miles Parks, NPR, 17 Sep. 2025
Memory poisoning, for instance, can sneak in misleading data into an agent's long-term memory, quietly influencing how these systems make decisions.
—Steve Durbin, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
In a memorandum signed on Tuesday, the President ordered federal health agencies to enforce existing rules about misleading prescription drug advertisements.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
According to Adair, marketing can link protein to misleading promises about appearance and contribute to poor self-esteem.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 9 Sep. 2025
After tragedies or natural disasters, fake nonprofits or misleading crowdfunding campaigns pop up online, siphoning donations away from legitimate causes.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
In a world where images are so numerous and so difficult to understand, truth itself can be in danger, threatened by false interpretations and distorted, misleading half-truths.
—Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Researchers caution consumers to be wary of misleading advertising on cereal boxes and to check nutrition labels.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misleading
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, a group of states led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton separately sued Google for anticompetitive and deceptive practices in its ad business.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Katie’s denial was once again found to be deceptive.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The honeymoon phase can be deceiving.—
Essence,
Essence,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Share your horror at learning that this person is deceiving family members and basically stealing from them.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The false assurance was more than a slip.—
Eric Tucker,
Twin Cities,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Robinson, the founder of the now-defunct anti-immigration English Defence League (EDL), was released from prison earlier this year, having been jailed for being in contempt of court by repeating false accusations about a Syrian refugee.—
Catherine Nicholls,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The perfectly still water creates a flawless mirror image of the stalactites above, tricking your eyes into seeing a vast, bottomless lake.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
16 Sep. 2025
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What does work is tricking her into pressing a button that knocks her out.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Your press release isn’t fooling anyone.—
Roberta Matuson,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Stop fooling yourself and listen.—
Richard B. Williams,
Denver Post,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Misleading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misleading. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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