miscast

[ mis-kast, -kahst ]

verb (used with object),mis·cast, mis·cast·ing.

to assign an unsuitable role to (an actor): Tom was miscast as Romeo.
to allot (a role) to an unsuitable actor.

to select unsuitable actors for (a play, motion picture, or the like).

Origin of miscast

1925–30; mis-¹ + cast (in sense “to select or assign actors”)

Words Nearby miscast

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use miscast in a sentence

A surprisingly miscast Duff — too bland as the ingenue, with little of the spark of her scheming scene-stealer on “Younger” — plays 29-year-old Sophie, a photographer who’s gone out with practically half the guys on Tinder in her search for the One.
I never thought I’d miss ‘How I Met Your Mother.’ Then I saw ‘How I Met Your Father.’ | Inkoo Kang | January 17, 2022 | Washington Post
In doing so, prosecutors allege, its members miscast criminality as patriotism.
Inside One Combat Vet's Journey From Defending His Country to Storming the Capitol | W.J. Hennigan/Washington | July 9, 2021 | Time
At the least, it appears the seventh-year player, who torched the Hawks in the regular season, has been exposed in the playoffs as miscast in the role of No.
Knicks’ Julius Randle has gone from most improved player to mostly misfiring against Hawks | Des Bieler | May 31, 2021 | Washington Post
It was the best performance by a woefully miscast actress in decades.
The Tightest Oscar Race: Jennifer Lawrence vs. Lupita Nyong’o for Best Supporting Actress | Kevin Fallon, Marlow Stern | February 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Roberts is miscast here, never cracking that blockbuster smile and speaking in a terrible Irish accent.
Oscar Nominees’ Most Embarrassing Roles: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, and More | Marlow Stern | February 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

The vice president has to be himself, not a reprise of a miscast LBJ.
Washington’s Endless Civil War | Robert Shrum | January 11, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Everyone feels spectacularly miscast here and I was left scratching my head, wondering just who would want to watch this.
TV Preview: Snap Judgments of 2012-13’s New Shows | Jace Lacob, Maria Elena Fernandez | June 12, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
The news got us thinking of other actors who were miscast as famous literary characters in films.
Hollywood's Dumbest Casting Choices | Marlow Stern | February 2, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
For one thing the production was doomed at the start: it was wofully miscast.
Iconoclasts | James Huneker
Terriss looked all wrong as Orsino; many other people were miscast.
The Story of My Life | Ellen Terry

British Dictionary definitions for miscast

miscast

/ (ˌmɪsˈkɑːst) /

verb-casts, -casting or -cast (tr)

to cast badly
(often passive)
- to cast (a role or the roles) in (a play, film, etc) inappropriately: Falstaff was certainly miscast
- to assign an inappropriate role to: he was miscast as Othello

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

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