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to miscall

to miscall

1 7.6
To give someone or something the wrong name
  • verb
  • /ˌmɪsˈkɔl/
translation icon : nombrar incorrectamente
  • The reporter miscalled the senator's name during the live broadcast.

Examples

  • The long-drawn-out hostage crisis exacerbated the tension felt by many Americans at what was miscalled "the return of Islam."

    Academic text (2014)
  • As I watched the Packers game end last night, I was wondering: "What would Shurmur do if they miscalled a touchdown and the Browns lost the game?"

    Blog text (17)
  • Hence, we never miscall the Pope, but use some familiar term dreamed up by journalists.

    Blog text (6)
  • Shrum miscalled the election, arguing that the tide had turned.

    Blog text (24)
  • It was a mistake to miscall the final score of the game.

  • After reviewing the footage, they realized they had miscalled the player's actions.

Synonyms

to mislabel
vsto miscall
10 4.1

To give something the wrong name

refers to speaking an incorrect name rather than placing a label
to misname
vsto miscall
2 6.3

To call someone or something by the wrong name

has identical meaning but uses a different verb form

Antonyms

1.0

To give a name to someone or something and sometimes to say they are a certain kind

How Correct

to identify
1.8
to name
1.0
to miscall
1 7.6

Surface Forms

miscall infinitive
miscalled past
miscalled past participle
miscalling present participle
miscalls third person singular

Morphology

miscall = call (transparent) = mis + call

The prefix 'mis-' clearly indicates an incorrect action applied to the verb 'call'.

Etymology

Miscall comes from the beginning mis- meaning 'wrong', as in mistake or misplace, and the common word call, which means 'to name' or 'to shout'. So, miscall is like making a 'wrong call' and means giving someone the wrong name or calling something incorrectly.