Misconstrue Meaning in English
word
Definition
To interpret or understand something incorrectly, especially what someone says or means.
Usage & Nuances
Formal and often used in both speech and writing. Commonly followed by 'someone's words,' 'intentions,' or 'meaning.' Do not confuse with 'misunderstand,' which is more general; 'misconstrue' often implies a more specific or unnatural misinterpretation.
Spanish: malinterpretar - entender malPortuguese (BR): interpretar mal - entender erradoPortuguese (PT): interpretar mal - entender malChinese (Simplified): 误解Chinese (Traditional): 誤解Hindi: गलत समझनाArabic: أساء الفهمBengali: ভুলভাবে ব্যাখ্যা করা - ভুল বুঝাRussian: неправильно истолковать - неверно понятьJapanese: 誤解する - 曲解するVietnamese: hiểu sai - diễn giải saiKorean: 오해하다 - 잘못 해석하다Turkish: yanlış yorumlamak - yanlış anlamakUrdu: غلط مطلب نکالنا - غلط سمجھناIndonesian: menafsirkan secara salah - salah memahami
Example Sentences
It's easy to misconstrue what someone says in a text message.
basic
Please don't misconstrue my intentions.
basic
She didn't mean to be rude—you misconstrued her words.
basic
He tends to misconstrue comments as criticism, even if they're not.
natural
Don’t misconstrue her quietness as a lack of interest—she’s just shy.
natural
I think you might have misconstrued what I was trying to say there.
natural