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Synonyms

misleading

American  
[mis-lee-ding] / mɪsˈli dɪŋ /

adjective

  1. deceptive; tending to mislead.

misleading British  
/ mɪsˈliːdɪŋ /

adjective

  1. tending to confuse or mislead; deceptive

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • misleadingly adverb
  • misleadingness noun

Etymology

Origin of misleading

First recorded in 1630–40; mislead + -ing 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In the United States, that means oversight from the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission — bodies that regulate drug protocols and police misleading commercial claims.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

Italy’s competition watchdog launched an investigation into Booking.com for potentially misleading users about accommodation value.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

However, appearances in the quantum world can be misleading.

From Science Daily • Apr. 22, 2026

Gorka’s claims of battlefield victories are often exaggerated or misleading about who was targeted and why, according to security officials and counterterrorism analysts.

From Salon • Apr. 22, 2026

Otherwise, it would be a merciless and, indeed, a heinous action, as it would entail ruining a reputation and misleading a community.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.