misinform
Tell false things
To misinform is to give someone false or inaccurate information, whether intentionally or not.
The word emphasizes the effect on the recipient rather than the intent of the speaker: The report misinformed the public about the actual risks.
Someone who has been misinformed believes something untrue through no fault of their own.
Cause false belief
- deceiveCause false belief
- lieDeliberate falsehood
- dupeDeceive or victim
- hoodwinkTrick into false belief
delude · bamboozle · beguile · trick · fool · con · bluff · prevaricate
Invent or manufacture
- inventCreate something new
- concoctInvent or devise
- make upFacial beauty products
- untruthA false statement
falsehood · lie · falsity · fiction · canard · whopper · tall tale · misspeak
Depict inaccurately or falsely
- distortTwist from original form
- twistRotating motion or surprise
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- slantOblique angle or bias
skew · falsify · garble · manipulate · doctor · fudge · embellish · exaggerate
Coercive psychological manipulation
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- agitpropPolitical art for causes
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
bias · censorship · narrative control · talking points · partisan · polarization · demagogy · messaging
Playful trick on someone
- spoofComic exaggerated imitation
- hoaxerOne who deceives playfully
- fake newsIntentionally deceptive media content
- clickbaitSensationalized content for traffic
satire · parody · joke · trickery · charade · ruse · put-on · leg-pull
Informal talk spreading rumors
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
grapevine · scuttlebutt · buzz · word of mouth · urban legend · myth · old wives tale · tittle-tattle
mislead
Cause false belief
hoodwink · delude · bamboozle · beguile · trick · fool · con · bluff · prevaricate · fib
fabricate
Invent or manufacture
untruth · falsehood · lie · falsity · fiction · canard · whopper · tall tale · misspeak · misstate
misrepresent
Depict inaccurately or falsely
slant · skew · falsify · garble · manipulate · doctor · fudge · embellish · exaggerate · overstate
brainwashing
Coercive psychological manipulation
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- agitpropPolitical art for causes
- spinRapid rotation around axis
manipulation · bias · censorship · narrative control · talking points · partisan · polarization · demagogy · messaging · psyops
prank
Playful trick on someone
- spoofComic exaggerated imitation
- hoaxerOne who deceives playfully
- fake newsIntentionally deceptive media content
clickbait · satire · parody · joke · trickery · charade · ruse · put-on · leg-pull · April Fools
gossip
Informal talk spreading rumors
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
innuendo · grapevine · scuttlebutt · buzz · word of mouth · urban legend · myth · old wives tale · tittle-tattle · viral
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- misunderstandingmisunderstand, misinterpret, miscommunication, misconception, misconstrue
misinforminform
Give facts to
enlighten · educate · tell the truth · apprise · brief
misinformdisabuse
Correct a mistaken belief
undeceive · correct · set straight · debunk · disillusion
- misinformation campaignsOrganized spreading of falsehoods
misinformation, misinformed, misinforms, misinformer, misinforming