misrepresent
Americanverb (used with object)
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to represent incorrectly, improperly, or falsely.
-
to represent in an unsatisfactory manner.
verb
Related Words
Misrepresent, distort, falsify, belie share the sense of presenting information in a way that does not accord with the truth. Misrepresent usually involves a deliberate intention to deceive, either for profit or advantage: The dealer misrepresented the condition of the car. Distort implies a purposeful twisting or emphasizing of certain statements so as to produce an inaccurate or misleading impresssion: cleverly distorting the facts to create an impression of his own innocence. Falsify suggests a tampering with or alteration of facts, records, or documents, especially with the intent to cheat or deceive: He falsified the birth records to conceal his age. Belie means to create an impression that is inconsistent with the facts, or that contradicts other evidence but it does not usually suggest intent to deceive: Her casual, relaxed manner belies her insecurity.
Other Word Forms
- misrepresentation noun
- misrepresentative adjective
- misrepresenter noun
- premisrepresent verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of misrepresent
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.
One creator misrepresented news coverage, including by The 19th, to construct the lie that churches and other groups were “trying to take these kids from Haitians and allowing them to be deported without helping them.”
From Salon
The report was quickly panned by researchers, who said it was riddled with errors and, in some cases, misrepresented the very studies it cited.
From Barron's
Those companies each filed for bankruptcy, as lenders leveled accusations that collateral for loans was misrepresented.
Sir Keir has accused Lord Mandelson of misrepresenting the extent of his relationship with Epstein in the run-up to his appointment.
From BBC
The charity separately said it had seen a "huge surge" in reports of pet dogs "being misrepresented as assistance dogs".
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
