mischaracterize

verb

mis·​char·​ac·​ter·​ize ˌmis-ˈker-ik-tə-ˌrīz How to pronounce mischaracterize (audio)
-ˈka-rik-
mischaracterized; mischaracterizing

transitive verb

: to characterize (someone or something) wrongly
mischaracterized his position on the issue
In many cases, the problems that the news media, activists, and politicians hype are real enough; however they are frequently greatly exaggerated and mischaracterizedBenjamin Radford

Examples of mischaracterize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Last week’s press conference led to concern among the autism community and their advocates because many of Kennedy’s statements mischaracterized autism and even insulted autistic people. Alison Escalante, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025 Justice, now a licensed clinical social worker specializing in trauma, says expectations of strength leave Black women vulnerable to muted emotions or being mischaracterized as angry, which compounds with provider bias, leaving them less likely to get support. Essence, 14 Apr. 2025 Abrego Garcia’s lawyers said in court filings on Sunday that the government mischaracterized Xinis’ order as foreign policy instead of upholding a judge’s order against Abrego Garcia’s mistaken detention and deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025 In the May 21 print edition's Page 2A, a story mischaracterized the landing gear of the plane in the Toronto airport crash. Usa Today, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mischaracterize

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mischaracterize was in 1798

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Cite this Entry

“Mischaracterize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mischaracterize. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

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