Misdescribe

To give an inaccurate or misleading account or representation of something, either intentionally or unintentionally. This can involve the distortion of facts, the omission of crucial details, or the exaggeration of certain aspects to create a false impression. The act of misdescribing implies a divergence between the stated description and the actual reality of the subject being described. It can occur in various contexts, from casual conversations to formal reports, and its impact ranges from minor confusion to significant misjudgment and manipulation. The severity of the 'misdescribe' hinges on the degree of the inaccuracy and its consequences.

Misdescribe meaning with examples

• The real estate agent *misdescribed* the property, highlighting its 'spacious garden' while failing to mention it was prone to flooding during heavy rain. This deceptive advertisement lured in many interested buyers and cost them thousands in damages.
• In his haste to get his story published, the journalist *misdescribed* the events, claiming that they witnessed a confrontation when, in fact, they were not present, which caused public outrage when the truth emerged.
• The company’s product brochure *misdescribed* the performance capabilities of its new engine, overstating fuel efficiency and horsepower, which led to dissatisfied customers and product returns. It was a major breach of consumer law.
• During the witness testimony, she accidentally *misdescribed* the suspect's clothing due to the dim lighting, leading the investigators to initially focus on the wrong individual, thus delaying the investigation.
• He consciously chose to misdescribe his qualifications on his resume, exaggerating his experience and accomplishments, hoping to get hired which worked for some time, but ultimately resulted in his firing.