misinterpret
verb
mis·in·ter·pret
ˌmi-sᵊn-ˈtər-prət 
-pət
misinterpreted; misinterpreting; misinterprets
1
: to explain wrongly
His comment on the speech misinterprets the speaker's meaning.
2
: to understand wrongly
Her silence should not be misinterpreted as consent.
Examples of misinterpret in a Sentence
He claims that his statements have been misinterpreted by the media.
Her silence should not be misinterpreted as consent.
Recent Examples on the Web
That’s the paradox of conflict — our most instinctive reactions are often misinterpreted.
—
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
The same conflict, with a partial scientific understanding misinterpreted and used to justify resource extraction, is playing out in the Pacific, where mining pilot projects are already underway in international waters.
—Christian Elliott, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
Travelers concerned about America’s current reputation on a global level aren’t misinterpreting the prevailing mood around the US administration — especially in Europe.
—Blane Bachelor, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025
At age 11, Devine was struck by a cement truck after misinterpreting a friend's shout while crossing a street.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misinterpret
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Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
The same conflict, with a partial scientific understanding misinterpreted and used to justify resource extraction, is playing out in the Pacific, where mining pilot projects are already underway in international waters.
—Christian Elliott, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
Travelers concerned about America’s current reputation on a global level aren’t misinterpreting the prevailing mood around the US administration — especially in Europe.
—Blane Bachelor, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025
At age 11, Devine was struck by a cement truck after misinterpreting a friend's shout while crossing a street.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misinterpret
Cite this Entry
“Misinterpret.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misinterpret. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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