misjudged

Misjudged is an adjective describing someone or something that has been judged wrongly or unfairly. An individual may be misjudged when their character, abilities, or intentions are assessed inaccurately, often due to limited information, assumptions, or bias. The term also applies to actions, plans, or situations that are judged prematurely and later revealed as misunderstood or misconstrued.

The word is formed from the prefix mis- meaning wrongly and the verb judge. Its use in English dates from medieval and early modern periods and remains common in everyday speech as well as in journalism, literature, and criticism. Misjudged implies a reversal or correction of an earlier assessment, or at least a call for re-evaluation based on new evidence.

In practice, statements about someone being misjudged typically acknowledge prior error while avoiding harsh verdicts. The phrase can also reflect a defensive stance, as when someone asks others to reconsider prior impressions.

Misjudged should not be confused with merely uncertain or tentative judgments; it conveys that the original evaluation has proven inaccurate or incomplete.

Related terms include misjudgment, misperception, bias, and prejudice, as well as the broader topic of cognitive biases in judgment.