misconstrue (C1)
verb
Pronunciation: /ˌmɪskənˈstruː/
Definition
Interpret a person's words or actions in the wrong way.
Examples
Please do not misconstrue my silence as agreement with your proposal.
His innocent joke was misconstrued by the audience as a personal attack.
She worried that her hesitation might be misconstrued as a lack of confidence.
How to Use misconstrue
- misconstrue something as something (collocation)
- To incorrectly label or view one thing as another. — "Do not misconstrue his quiet demeanor as arrogance."
- be misconstrued by someone (collocation)
- The state of having one's actions or words understood incorrectly by others. — "Her intentions were frequently misconstrued by the press."
Synonyms of misconstrue
Words with a similar meaning to misconstrue:
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