mischaracterize

American  

[mis-kar-ik-ter-ahyz] / ˌmɪsˈkær ɪk tərˌaɪz /

verb (used with object)

mischaracterized, mischaracterizing

1. to characterize inaccurately or falsely.

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Other Word Forms

• mischaracterization noun

Example Sentences

Nevertheless, “Devil in Disguise” interrogates the police’s tendency to mischaracterize his victims, fueling the media and the public’s subsequent rush to cast the dead as somehow deserving of their fate.

From Salon • Oct. 29, 2025

Harris’ team said it was aware of concerns that high-income individuals might try to mischaracterize their income as tips, to lower their tax liability.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 15, 2024

“People sometimes mischaracterize U.K. security policy as being a poodle of the U.S.,” he said.

From New York Times • Jan. 25, 2024

They also fret that the information released could mischaracterize the overall findings or provide enough clues about identities to damage the reputations of lab associates or co-authors not involved in the misconduct.

From Science Magazine • Dec. 7, 2023

LaSalle thought that was fine—but the Court of Appeals later repudiated the decision, holding that a waiver of appeal can’t mischaracterize what rights are waived.

From Slate • Dec. 22, 2022