misconstrue means to interpret erroneously, to understand incorrectly; to misunderstand. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 76 out of 100.
misconstrue is pronounced /mɪskənˈstɹuː/.
Why “misconstrue” is a great word
MISCONSTRUE — [Verb] To interpret a person's words or actions incorrectly. From Middle English *misconstruen*, equivalent to the prefix *mis-* ("badly, wrongly") + *construe* (from Latin *construere*, "to pile up, build, arrange, interpret"). Unlike "comprehend," which celebrates successful understanding, or the neutral "construe," which simply maps the act of interpretation, to misconstrue is to assemble a faulty edifice of meaning. It is the averted glance read as coldness instead of shyness, the well-meant advice taken as an insult, and the sarcastic remark accepted at face value—a lonely architecture of error, forever built just slightly off the foundation.
verb
- To interpret erroneously, to understand incorrectly; to misunderstand.“His words were misconstrued as an insult.”