misinforming
Telling untrue things
Misinforming is giving someone false or inaccurate information, whether intentionally or through carelessness.
The word emphasizes the act of transmission rather than the falsehood itself: The spokesperson was accused of misinforming the public.
Unlike lying, misinforming can happen unknowingly—you can misinform someone while believing you're telling the truth.
Cause false belief
- deceiveCause false belief
- distortionTwisting from original state
- manipulateControl through clever influence
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
falsification · hoax · sham · duplicitous · fraudulent · dissemble · misrepresent · spin
Coercive psychological manipulation
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- agitpropPolitical art for causes
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
- censorshipOfficial content restriction
ideology · demagoguery · sensationalism · yellow journalism · incitement · radicalization · echo chamber · talking points
Informal talk spreading rumors
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- scuttlebuttInformal rumor or speculation
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
speculation · grapevine · buzz · allegation · unverified · secondhand · viral · spread
Deliberate falsehood
- untruthA false statement
- falsityState of being incorrect
- inaccuracyLack of precision
- misstatementIncorrect assertion of fact
erroneousness · fallacy · fib · whopper · canard · prevarication · mendacity · fake news
mislead
Cause false belief
- deceiveCause false belief
- distortionTwisting from original state
- manipulateControl through clever influence
fabrication · falsification · hoax · sham · duplicitous · fraudulent · dissemble · misrepresent · spin · obfuscate
brainwashing
Coercive psychological manipulation
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- agitpropPolitical art for causes
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
censorship · ideology · demagoguery · sensationalism · yellow journalism · incitement · radicalization · echo chamber · talking points · narrative
gossip
Informal talk spreading rumors
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- scuttlebuttInformal rumor or speculation
innuendo · speculation · grapevine · buzz · allegation · unverified · secondhand · viral · spread · circulate
lie
Deliberate falsehood
- untruthA false statement
- falsityState of being incorrect
- inaccuracyLack of precision
misstatement · erroneousness · fallacy · fib · whopper · canard · prevarication · mendacity · fake news · half-truth
misinforminginforming
Conveying facts to another
telling the truth · educating · enlightening · setting straight · correcting
misinformingenlightening
Providing new understanding
illuminating · clarifying · elucidating · edifying · disabusing
inform, information, informed, misinformation, uninformed, informative, informing, informer, informant