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mischaracterization

mischaracterization

6 8.3
A wrong description that makes a person or event seem bad
  • noun
  • /ˌmɪsˌkɛrɪktəraɪˈzeɪʃən/
  • US
translation icon : mala caracterización
  • Analogies between the nineteenth century and the twenty-first are based on a severe mischaracterization of the actual conditions of the new era.

Hey, that is a gross mischaracterization.

Examples

  • Many believe that the criticism of the policy is a mischaracterization of its true intentions.

  • Indeed, there has been a sustained outcry against Bush's mischaracterization among our allies, who accuse the United States of being arrogant, unilateralist, and messianic.

    Academic text (2002)
  • To call that a mischaracterization of our doctrine would be generous.

    Blog text (14)
  • My response: I would say this is a gross mischaracterization of what I've said.

    Blog text (3)
  • O'Reilly took a similar approach to the Fox News mischaracterization of a White House website post looking to correct untruthful claims about health care reform.

    Academic text (2016)
  • Mitt Romney's mischaracterization of the tweet by the U.S. Embassy in Egypt reveals:

    Blog text (27)
  • And to call Solnit, for one, a "liberal" or a "Democrat" demonstrates either ignorance or deliberate mischaracterization.

    Blog text (27)
  • All the many flaws, inaccuracies, mischaracterizations, generalizations, and biases have been brought to light.

    Blog text (14)
  • The author's statement was a clear mischaracterization of the events that took place during the meeting.

  • The article contained a mischaracterization of the data, leading to widespread misunderstanding among readers.

Synonyms

misrepresentation
vsmischaracterization
25 7.5

A statement that gives false information about something

is an incorrect or unfair portrayal without implying deliberate lying
misperception
vsmischaracterization
12 6.8

A wrong idea about something

is about making an incorrect or unfair description rather than a mere misunderstanding
misinterpretation
vsmischaracterization
11 6.0

A wrong understanding of something that leads to wrong conclusions

is a wrong or unfair description made about someone or something
misreading
vsmischaracterization
6 4.0

A wrong idea about what someone wrote or said

is an unfair or incorrect description of someone or something, not only a reading error
misapprehension
vsmischaracterization
5 7.5

A wrong idea about what something means

is an incorrect or unfair description about the person or thing misunderstood
misimpression
vsmischaracterization
3 7.5

A wrong idea someone has about something

gives a wrong or unfair descriptive portrayal rather than just a mistaken belief
misconstruction
vsmischaracterization
1 8.3

A wrong idea about what someone said or meant

focuses on giving an unfair or wrong description rather than the interpretation error
misdescription
vsmischaracterization
7.5

An incorrect or misleading statement about something

is an incorrect or unfair description rather than any false wording difference
misframing
vsmischaracterization
  • Jargon
8.3

Giving information in a misleading way that makes people misunderstand it

is a wrong or unfair description rather than the framing act itself
misprision
vsmischaracterization
  • Archaic
9.9

A wrong understanding of what someone wrote or said

is a wrong or unfair description rather than a reporting or reading mistake

Antonyms

64 4.4

A description of the main qualities of a person or thing in a clear, detailed way

How Accurate

inaccuracy
24 4.9
misstatement
14 5.8
mischaracterization
  • US
6 8.3
distortion
46 5.8
fabrication
29 6.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

mischaracterization = characterization (transparent) = mis + character + ize + ation

The negative prefix 'mis-' applied to 'characterization' yields a straightforward sense of an incorrect or unfair description.

Etymology

Mischaracterization breaks into mis- ('wrong') and character ('the qualities or picture of a person'), with the ending -ization that makes it a noun. So a mischaracterization is a 'wrong' picture or description of someone or something, which is why it means an incorrect or unfair description.