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
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Recent Examples of misleading
Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026
The Cass County Emergency Services Board, National Weather Service and Everbridge are investigating the cause of the misleading notifications.
—Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2026
Here’s the thing — Seattle’s soggy reputation is a little misleading, and a drizzly day there can actually be one of your best.
—Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
Page filed his lawsuit in November 2020, alleging that his surveillance was unlawful because the warrant applications were false and misleading.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Samuelson called that a misleading statement.
—Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026
The study is the latest to show that AI responses to medical questions and scenarios can be misleading.
—Kaan Ozcan, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026
Idahoans United has been collecting signatures for about 10 months after suing the Idaho attorney general and secretary of state over the draft ballot title and financial impact information that the nonprofit said was misleading.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 19 Apr. 2026
California has strong consumer protection laws that prohibit false and misleading advertising.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 18 Apr. 2026
Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 27 Apr. 2026
On a federal level, there’s no blanket law requiring hotels to waive penalties for medical emergencies, but the Federal Trade Commission does monitor businesses for misleading practices.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2026
Vance’s advisers, who spoke with us on the condition of anonymity, told us that the vice president has presented his concerns as his own rather than accusing Hegseth or Caine of misleading the president.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
In cities with puppy-selling pet shops that includes complaints about puppy mill sourcing, sick puppies, misleading sales tactics, sky high prices and predatory lending.
—Annie Hornish, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026
With a clearer measure of how much ⁴²Ar is present, researchers can better separate genuine events from misleading ones.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
Conspicuously absent from Cherfilus-McCormick’s maudlin resignation statement was regret for misleading voters, or for leaving them unrepresented again while Congress faces some of the most fraught issues in our history.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
The drug firm pleaded guilty in 2007 to misleading the public about the dangers of its opioids.
—Craig R. McCoy, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Plaintiffs are seeking damages and for Trader Joe's to stop selling the product through misleading marketing, according to the lawsuit.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
However, he was later granted a new trial after a judge ruled that star witness Duane Deaver, a State Bureau of Investigation crime lab agent, provided misleading and false testimony, per WRAL.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026
The Cass County Emergency Services Board, National Weather Service and Everbridge are investigating the cause of the misleading notifications.
—Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2026
Here’s the thing — Seattle’s soggy reputation is a little misleading, and a drizzly day there can actually be one of your best.
—Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
Page filed his lawsuit in November 2020, alleging that his surveillance was unlawful because the warrant applications were false and misleading.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Samuelson called that a misleading statement.
—Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026
The study is the latest to show that AI responses to medical questions and scenarios can be misleading.
—Kaan Ozcan, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026
Idahoans United has been collecting signatures for about 10 months after suing the Idaho attorney general and secretary of state over the draft ballot title and financial impact information that the nonprofit said was misleading.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 19 Apr. 2026
California has strong consumer protection laws that prohibit false and misleading advertising.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 18 Apr. 2026
Verb
The plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages and for Trader Joe's to stop selling the product through misleading marketing.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 27 Apr. 2026
On a federal level, there’s no blanket law requiring hotels to waive penalties for medical emergencies, but the Federal Trade Commission does monitor businesses for misleading practices.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2026
Vance’s advisers, who spoke with us on the condition of anonymity, told us that the vice president has presented his concerns as his own rather than accusing Hegseth or Caine of misleading the president.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
In cities with puppy-selling pet shops that includes complaints about puppy mill sourcing, sick puppies, misleading sales tactics, sky high prices and predatory lending.
—Annie Hornish, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026
With a clearer measure of how much ⁴²Ar is present, researchers can better separate genuine events from misleading ones.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
Conspicuously absent from Cherfilus-McCormick’s maudlin resignation statement was regret for misleading voters, or for leaving them unrepresented again while Congress faces some of the most fraught issues in our history.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
The drug firm pleaded guilty in 2007 to misleading the public about the dangers of its opioids.
—Craig R. McCoy, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Plaintiffs are seeking damages and for Trader Joe's to stop selling the product through misleading marketing, according to the lawsuit.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misleading
Adjective
-
Guest reveals concerns about deceptive display.—
,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Chicago arts venues are united in their disdain for the deceptive practice.—
Noel Brennan,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Swalwell apparently did an excellent job deceiving those around him, including some congressional and campaign staffers who’d known him for years and worked closely with the seven-term lawmaker, day in, day out.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The Mets have a responsibility to protect their players by not throwing them under the bus, but there are ways to do that without trying to convince people that their eyes are deceiving them.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The boy’s mother, Tommi Jo Mejer, 50, of Aliso Viejo, was arrested days after the accident and charged with child endangerment, accessory after the fact, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and providing false information to a peace officer.—
Fedor Zarkhin,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
The boy’s mother, 50-year-old Tommi Jo Mejer of Aliso Viejo, was later arrested and charged with felony child endangerment, being an accessory after the fact and several misdemeanors, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor and providing false information to a peace officer.—
Sydney Barragan,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Deed theft is when a scammer steals someone's home, often by forging documents or tricking someone into signing over a deed.—
Tim McNicholas,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
After tricking her way into her dream job, Liza discovers that disguising herself as a millennial and keeping her two lives separate is a job in and of itself.—
Andrew Walsh,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But anyone in the auto industry who didn’t feel like something was going to happen in China five years ago was fooling themselves.—
Jamie Lincoln Kitman,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Politicians are fooling themselves about the political power of health-conscious moms.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misleading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misleading. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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