Definition of "mischaracterize" [mis•char•ac•ter•ize]

• To give a false or misleading character to: mischaracterized the findings of the study. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Paladino later said that Democrats were trying to "mischaracterize" the messages and he didn't know if they were "true" because he was just forwarding what was sent to him by other people."
• "York City Administrative Code on Sept. 15, 2005 to "mischaracterize" the court order as"
• "Sadly, they have also included some shocking anti-Semitic incidents that repeat insidious ancient stereotypes and mischaracterize the 1 percent of our wealthiest as "the Jews.""