misdirects
Leads the wrong way
Misdirects means to direct wrongly or send in the wrong direction.
A postal worker misdirects a package; a tour guide misdirects travelers.
More often, misdirecting involves deliberate deception—diverting attention from what matters: The magician misdirects the audience while palming the coin.
A misdirect as a noun is the deceptive element itself, common in magic, film, and interrogation.
Sends by alternate path
- detoursIndirect alternate routes
- lostUnable to navigate
- waywardStubbornly self-willed
- astrayOff the right path
off course · bad directions · dead end · wild goose chase · wrong address · false trail
Causes false belief
- deceivesCauses false belief
- foolsIdiots or deceives
- tricksDeceptive acts or techniques
- dupesDeceives or victims
cons · scams · hoodwinks · bamboozles · beguiles · deludes · hoaxes · swindles
Mock offensive movements
- diversionsEntertainments or alternate routes
- decoysObjects meant to mislead
- bluffsMisleads about one's position
- gambitsTactical opening sacrifices
ploys · maneuvers · flanking · counterplay · smokescreen · bait and switch · false flag · distraction
reroutes
Sends by alternate path
astray · off course · bad directions · dead end · wild goose chase · wrong address · false trail
misleads
Causes false belief
dupes · cons · scams · hoodwinks · bamboozles · beguiles · deludes · hoaxes · swindles · gulls
feints
Mock offensive movements
- diversionsEntertainments or alternate routes
- decoysObjects meant to mislead
- bluffsMisleads about one's position
gambits · ploys · maneuvers · flanking · counterplay · smokescreen · bait and switch · false flag · distraction · head fake
cues
Signals prompting action
- stagingPreparing for presentation
- blockingImpeding forward progress
- audienceGathered viewers collectively
attention · focus · sleight · prestidigitation · magician · illusionist · conjurer · assistant · patter · timing
misdirectsinforms
Communicates facts to
enlightens · clarifies · levels with · reveals · discloses
misdirectsfocuses
Concentrates attention on
draws attention to · exposes · reveals · shows · highlights
- misdirected mailCorrespondence sent somewhere wrong
misdirected, misdirect, misdirection, misdirecting, misdirections