misdirect

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mis·di·rect / ˌmisdəˈrekt; -dī-/ • v. [tr.] (often be misdirected) send (someone or something) to the wrong place or in the wrong direction: voters were misdirected to the wrong polling place. ∎  aim (something) in the wrong direction: he misdirected a shot. ∎  (of a judge) instruct wrongly: the appeals court was satisfied that the trial judge had misdirected the jury. ∎  use or apply (something) wrongly or inappropriately: their efforts have been largely misdirected.DERIVATIVES: mis·di·rec·tion / -ˈrekshən/ n.

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