English vocabulary · C1
Misconstrue
/ˌmɪs.kənˈstruː/ · v.
Misconstrue means to understand words the wrong way. You hear one thing but believe the person meant something else.
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Example sentences
- She misconstrued his silence as anger.
- The reporter misconstrued the brief reply.
Word origin and roots
- mis — wrong (from Old English)
- con — together (from Latin)
- stru — build (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- MISREAD — take the wrong meaning (Read It Wrong)
- MISINTERPRET — form a wrong idea (Understand It Wrong)
- MISUNDERSTAND — fail to understand correctly (Get The Wrong Idea)
Words with the same root
stru — build
- structure — the way parts are built together
- construct — build something from parts
- instruct — teach or give directions
Lesson notes
Misconstrue means to understand words the wrong way. You hear one thing but believe the person meant something else.
Related: misread, misinterpret, misunderstand. Use misconstrue when words get the wrong meaning.
She misconstrued his silence as anger. The reporter misconstrued the brief reply.
Mis- means wrong. Con- means together. Stru- means build. Build the parts together wrong, and you misconstrue them.