misguide
C1Formal, slightly literary; common in written analysis and criticism.
Definition
Meaning
To lead or direct someone in a wrong direction, to give bad or incorrect advice, information, or instructions.
To cause someone to have wrong ideas, beliefs, or to make poor judgments; to lead someone into error or a mistaken course of action.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies an active, often persistent influence leading someone astray; stronger and more formal than 'mislead'. Often used in contexts of ideology, ethics, or major decisions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. 'Misguided' (adjective) is more common than the verb 'misguide' in both varieties.
Connotations
The verb is formal and implies a serious, often culpable, leading into error. The adjective 'misguided' often carries a connotation of being wrong but sometimes well-intentioned.
Frequency
The verb is relatively low frequency in speech; more common in writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
NP __ NP (He misguided his followers.)NP be misguided by NP (She was misguided by false promises.)NP __ NP into V-ing (They misguided the public into supporting the scheme.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(adjective) A misguided missile (literal); A misguided soul/person (figurative).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Criticism of a flawed strategy: 'The CEO's overconfidence misguided the board's investment decisions.'
Academic
Analyzing historical or ideological errors: 'The theory misguided a generation of researchers.'
Everyday
Discussing bad advice: 'Don't let his pessimism misguide you; you should apply for the job.'
Technical
Rare. Could be used in computing/engineering for faulty navigation systems: 'A corrupted sensor misguided the autonomous vehicle.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- His outdated views misguided a whole generation of students.
- The poorly sourced documentary misguided the public on the issue.
American English
- False advertising misguided consumers about the product's benefits.
- She felt the charismatic speaker had misguided his followers.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The old map misguided us, and we got lost.
- He misguided his friend with the wrong instructions.
- The article misguided readers by presenting opinion as fact.
- She was misguided by her initial assumptions about the project's difficulty.
- The regime's propaganda continues to misguide its citizens about the state of the economy.
- Historians argue that a romanticised view of the past has misguided national policy for decades.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MISS the GUIDE'. If you miss your guide on a mountain path, you get lost. To MISGUIDE is to be a bad guide, causing someone to miss the right path.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEADING/JOURNEY as THINKING/ACTION (A wrong leader on a journey = wrong ideas leading to bad actions).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'deceived/обманул' (which is 'deceive'), but closer to 'ввести в заблуждение' or 'дать неправильное направление'.
- The adjective 'misguided' is common and often translated as 'заблуждающийся' or 'ошибочный'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'misguide' for a simple, one-time factual error (use 'misinform').
- Confusing 'misguided' (adj.) with 'misguiding' (less common present participle).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'misguide' CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are close synonyms, but 'misguide' is more formal and often implies leading someone into a more serious, prolonged, or fundamental error, especially in matters of judgment or principle. 'Mislead' is more common and general.
The adjective 'misguided' is far more common in modern usage. You will frequently see phrases like 'misguided attempt', 'misguided policy', or 'misguided person'.
Yes. While it can imply deliberate deception, it often describes the result of poor judgment, ignorance, or faulty information on the part of the guide, not necessarily malicious intent.
The direct noun is rarely used. Instead, we use related nouns like 'misguidance' (formal/rare) or, more commonly, phrases like 'being misguided' or the result: 'error', 'misconception', or 'poor judgment'.