misbelieve

[mis-bi-leev]

verb (used without object)

misbelieved, misbelieving 

1. to believe wrongly; hold an erroneous belief.

verb (used with object)

misbelieved, misbelieving 

1. to disbelieve; doubt.

Other Word Forms

• misbeliever noun
• misbelievingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of misbelieve¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; mis- ¹, believe

Example Sentences

"Many older smokers misbelieve that they are too old to quit or too old to benefit from quitting."

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Every human bond was severed by the guilt of heresy; children were taught to desert their parents, and even the sacrament of matrimony could not unite an orthodox wife to a misbelieving husband.

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I misbelieve that'll ever be; don't see how it can be.

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Misbelievers would have no rights under an orthodox State, and a misbelieving prince would have no authority over orthodox subjects.

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Nor let the slow and misbelieving wight Doubt how the fire on the hard earth may seize; No more then how those waters erst did light Upon the sinfull world.

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Related Words

• disbelieve 
• discredit 
• mistrust