misdirect

IPA/ˌmɪsdəˈrekt/
KK[mɪsdɪrˈɛkt]IPA/ˌmɪsdəˈrekt/

misdirect — verb

  • misdirect,,present simple I / you / we / they
  • misdirectpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • misdirects,,he / she / it
  • misdirectshe / she / it
  • misdirected,,past simple
  • misdirectedpast simple
  • misdirecting,,-ing form
  • misdirecting-ing form

1. to send a letter, package, or other item to a wrong address or person; or to aim

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to send a letter, package, or other item to a wrong address or person; or to aim something such as attention, effort, or criticism at the wrong target instead of the correct one

例句

Jin's package was misdirected to a building across town and arrived three days late.

passive: parcel/letter misdirected to [wrong place]

The travel agent misdirected our group to the old terminal, making us nearly miss the flight.

misdirect + person/group to [wrong location]

同義詞
  • send astray

    less common; more formal or literary tone

  • misaddress

    narrower — only for letters, packages, or correspondence

  • divert

    can be intentional; 'misdirect' always implies a mistake

反義詞

文法句型

misdirect + noun + to/at + noun phrase

be misdirected to [wrong place/person]

用法筆記

Commonly used in the passive voice when describing mail, parcels, or other physical items sent to the wrong place. When the object is a feeling (anger, frustration), the active voice is also natural and the target is introduced by 'at'.

常見錯誤

❌I misdirected the letter to the wrong manager.
✅I misdirected the letter to the accounts department instead of human resources.
💡'misdirect' implies the destination is wrong, not that the recipient is a different person than intended.

2. to spend or employ money, time, energy, or skills on activities or items that ma

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to spend or employ money, time, energy, or skills on activities or items that make poor use of them — for instance, putting a training budget into unnecessary equipment or assigning a talented employee to a job well below their ability

例句

Tanvi felt the company misdirected her design skills into repetitive paperwork instead of creative projects.

misdirect + skill/talent into [unsuitable activity]

Much of the education budget was misdirected on new cars instead of student books.

passive: budget/resources misdirected on [wasteful purchase]

同義詞
  • misuse

    stronger negative connotation of abuse; less about direction, more about improper use

  • waste

    focuses on the loss rather than the wrong direction

  • squander

    more emotional, suggests a clear opportunity lost

反義詞
  • use wisely

    opposite — employing resources appropriately

  • invest

    suggests putting resources into something beneficial

文法句型

misdirect + noun (resource) + into/on + noun phrase

be misdirected on [wasteful items]

用法筆記

The subject is usually a person or organisation in charge of resources. The object refers to a resource such as money, time, energy, talent, or effort. The preposition 'into' or 'on' introduces the unsuitable use.

常見錯誤

❌The manager misdirected the new employee' (if you mean they gave poor guidance).
✅The manager misdirected the training budget on unnecessary software.
💡In this sense, 'misdirect' applies to how resources are used, not how people are guided.

3. to direct feelings such as anger, trust, love, or frustration toward a person or

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

to direct feelings such as anger, trust, love, or frustration toward a person or thing that does not deserve them — for example, becoming angry at a colleague when the real cause of the problem is something else

例句

Jin realised that the trust placed in a dishonest business partner had been entirely misdirected.

passive: trust/faith misdirected toward [undeserving person]

The residents' anger was misdirected at the bus drivers when the real cause was poor city planning.

passive: public anger misdirected at [wrong target]

同義詞
  • misplace

    softer, less active tone; 'misplaced trust' is very common

  • project onto

    psychological term; implies unconscious transfer of feelings

  • take out on

    informal; 'Don't take your anger out on me.'

反義詞

文法句型

misdirect + emotion + at/toward + noun phrase

be misdirected at [wrong person]

用法筆記

The object is always an emotion or feeling: anger, trust, affection, frustration, love, or loyalty. Frequently used in the passive voice because the person experiencing the emotion is often unaware they are directing it at the wrong target.

常見錯誤

❌She misdirected her anger at the rude customer who started the argument.
✅She misdirected her anger at her assistant, who had nothing to do with the argument.
💡'misdirect' requires that the target is the wrong person; if the target is actually responsible, the word does not fit.