misconstrue
verb (used with object)
to misunderstand the meaning of; take in a wrong sense; misinterpret.
misconstrued
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past participleof misconstrue.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof misconstrue.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
misconstrueverb (used with object)to misunderstand the meaning of; take in a wrong sense; misinterpret.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She posted a simple question, and her thank-you to the first person who answered was misconstrued as sarcastic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 25, 2026
Because of the carefree way Alcaraz plays, it can be misconstrued as him not caring.
From BBC ● Feb. 1, 2026
Previous military ruler Ne Win changed the rules of the road, requiring vehicles to swap driving lanes -- supposedly the result of misconstrued astrological advice to shift his left-wing regime to the political right.
From Barron's ● Dec. 21, 2025
I think that’s exactly what’s happened here, deliberately misconstrued facts to try to come up with a case.
From Slate ● Oct. 27, 2025
To Adams, on the other hand, he claimed that his remarks on the Davila essays had been misconstrued, that he was actually “not referring to any writing that I might suppose to be yours.”
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
