misthinking
Errors in logic
Misthinking is flawed or erroneous reasoning—thought that goes wrong somewhere.
The term suggests not an absence of thought but thought led astray: The report attributed the disaster to misthinking at the highest levels.
Someone who misthinks reaches conclusions through faulty logic or mistaken assumptions.
Foolish, costly mistake
- miscalculationError in estimation
- misstepError in action or judgment
- misinterpretationIncorrect understanding of meaning
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
slip · lapse · flawed reasoning · mistake · wrong conclusion · erroneous assumption · misreading · misapprehension
Preferring belief-supporting information
- anchoring biasOverreliance on initial information
- cognitive biasSystematic deviation from rationality
- cherry-pickingChoosing only supporting examples
- motivated reasoningBiased cognition favoring preferences
hindsight bias · groupthink · tunnel vision · prejudgment · blind spot · self-deception · rationalization · mental shortcut
Misleading logical trickery
- non sequiturIllogical conclusion or remark
- circular reasoningFallacy assuming its conclusion
- straw manFake version to demolish
- red herringIntentional misleading distraction
ad hominem · slippery slope · false dilemma · hasty generalization · equivocation · begging the question · false equivalence · appeal to authority
State of being baffled
- muddleDisordered, bewildered state
- mental fogClouded, sluggish cognition
- disorientationLoss of spatial awareness
- perplexityMental state of confusion
befuddlement · haze · clouded judgment · fuzzy logic · incoherence · cognitive fog
Erroneous belief or understanding
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
- illusionMisleading sensory impression
- false beliefConviction contrary to reality
- misbeliefFalse notion held true
superstition · wrong impression · fantasy · self-delusion · misperception
blunder
Foolish, costly mistake
- miscalculationError in estimation
- misstepError in action or judgment
- misinterpretationIncorrect understanding of meaning
oversight · slip · lapse · flawed reasoning · mistake · wrong conclusion · erroneous assumption · misreading · misapprehension
confirmation bias
Preferring belief-supporting information
- anchoring biasOverreliance on initial information
- cognitive biasSystematic deviation from rationality
- cherry-pickingChoosing only supporting examples
motivated reasoning · hindsight bias · groupthink · tunnel vision · prejudgment · blind spot · self-deception · rationalization · mental shortcut · unconscious bias
sophism
Misleading logical trickery
- non sequiturIllogical conclusion or remark
- circular reasoningFallacy assuming its conclusion
- straw manFake version to demolish
red herring · ad hominem · slippery slope · false dilemma · hasty generalization · equivocation · begging the question · false equivalence · appeal to authority · post hoc
bewilderment
State of being baffled
- muddleDisordered, bewildered state
- mental fogClouded, sluggish cognition
- disorientationLoss of spatial awareness
perplexity · befuddlement · haze · clouded judgment · fuzzy logic · incoherence · cognitive fog
misconception
Erroneous belief or understanding
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
- illusionMisleading sensory impression
- false beliefConviction contrary to reality
misbelief · superstition · wrong impression · fantasy · self-delusion · misperception
misthinkingclear thinking
sound judgment · good judgment · logical thinking · rational thought · critical thinking
think, thought, thinking, thinker, thinks, unthinking, rethink, overthink, misthink