misconstrue
verb
- to interpret incorrectly
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /mɪskənˈstɹuː/
verb
Etymology: From Middle English misconstruen, equivalent to mis- + construe.
- To interpret erroneously, to understand incorrectly; to misunderstand.
“His words were misconstrued as an insult.”
“It’s easy to misconstrue her silence as agreement.”