misjudge

IPA/ˌmɪsˈdʒʌdʒ/
KK[mɪsdʒˈʌdʒ]IPA/ˌmɪsˈdʒʌdʒ/

misjudge — verb

  • misjudgepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • misjudgeshe / she / it
  • misjudgedpast simple
  • misjudging-ing form

1. to reach a mistaken or unfair view of a person, reaction, or situation

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to reach a mistaken or unfair view of a person, reaction, or situation

Example

Wren misjudged the quiet teacher and expected a harsh reply.

misjudge + person

The committee misjudged public anger and delayed the apology for days.

misjudge the mood

Common collocations
  • misjudge someone's character
  • misjudge the mood
  • misjudge the situation
  • misjudge someone as + noun/adjective
Synonyms
  • misread

    often used when the wrong judgment comes from reading silence, mood, or signals

  • misinterpret

    slightly more formal; often used for words, actions, or events explained wrongly

  • underestimate

    only fits when the judgment is specifically too low, not just wrong or unfair

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

misjudge + person/situation

misjudge + object + as + noun

Usage Note

Often used when the object is a person, a mood, a motive, or a whole situation. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about faulty judgment, not about getting time, distance, or another amount wrong.

Common Mistakes

I misjudged about her character.
I misjudged her character.
Put the person or quality directly after the verb, not after 'about'.

2. to estimate time, distance, weight, or another amount incorrectly

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to estimate time, distance, weight, or another amount incorrectly

Example

Cyrus misjudged the walking distance and arrived with blistered feet.

misjudge the distance

Asher misjudged the suitcase weight and paid extra at the airport.

misjudge the weight

Common collocations
  • misjudge the distance
  • misjudge the weight
  • misjudge the time needed
  • misjudge how long + clause
Synonyms
  • miscalculate

    closer when the mistake comes from working out numbers or measurements

  • underestimate

    only works when the estimate is too low

  • overestimate

    only works when the estimate is too high

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

misjudge + amount/distance/weight

misjudge + how-clause

Usage Note

Usually used with distance, time, weight, depth, or another measurable quantity. Distinguish from sense 1: here the mistake is in the estimate itself rather than in your opinion of a person or situation.

Common Mistakes

We misjudged for the distance to camp.
We misjudged the distance to camp.
The amount or distance comes directly after the verb, not after 'for'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Misjudge is the broadest choice when you reach the wrong conclusion about a person, a feeling, or a situation. Misread is closer when the mistake comes from reading signals such as silence, tone, or the mood in a room. Misinterpret is slightly more formal and often appears when someone explains words, actions, or events in the wrong way. Miscalculate belongs with numbers, time, distance, or measurements rather than general judgment. Underestimate only fits when your view is too low, not when it is simply unfair or mistaken. You might misjudge a colleague, misread a friend's silence, misinterpret a warning email, miscalculate the travel time, or underestimate a rival's skill.

misjudge ↗misread ↗misinterpret ↗miscalculate ↗underestimate ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • badly misjudge
  • completely misjudge
  • easily misjudge

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Misjudge combines the prefix mis-, meaning 'wrongly' or 'badly', with judge. Judge came into English through Old French from Latin roots about giving judgment. Together, the verb keeps the idea of judging but adds the idea that the judgment is mistaken.