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

But in an interview with NPR last year, Patterson said the projection can create a misleading impression when used as a general-purpose world map. — Jewel Bright, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026

The White House’s misleading stats on oil shipments from the Gulf. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026

The lawsuit filed by two former employees contains allegations that are false, misleading, and unsupported by credible evidence. — Devon Henderson, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Staffers for major political figures have puzzled over the content, and are growing concerned about the rise of a new wave of videos with errors, exaggerations, misleading comments, and a tone that can be downright weird. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Zucker provided false and misleading statements to investigators, according to a summary of findings released Wednesday. — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026

Spanish authorities have said misleading videos and posts circulating on Instagram, TikTok and other social-media platforms falsely suggested that migrants who reached Ceuta by sea would be permitted to remain in Spain. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026

People may also often rely on the most available information or follow potentially misleading cues like how compelling someone sounds, their appearance or existing beliefs. — John C. Besley, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026

Levi & Korsinsky said in its Friday shareholder alert that its inquiry will examine whether Dick’s made materially false or misleading statements before releasing the results. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 31 Aug. 2026

Verb

Saylor Hayes' parents are accused of misleading authorities during the search. — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026

Investigators say Santos was barred from trading on his own attendance but still placed large bets and issued misleading social media posts aimed at moving prices, turning a $17,839 profit. — Larry Neumeister, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026

The finding could help scientists distinguish genuine signs of dark matter from misleading signals. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026

But the likely fake accounts potentially set up a legal quagmire for Temu, as European law bars the use of misleading formats for advertising. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

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

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