How to say "mislead" in Japanese

• 惑わすまどわすCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers 'mislead' in the sense of deluding or bewildering someone—clouding their judgment so they take falsehood for truth or grow confused. The natural choice for being misled by deceptive words or appearances.
  流言りゅうげん飛語ひごに惑まどわされるべからず、とはいうものの、言ゆうは易やすく行おこなうは難がたし、と思おもわない？↗

  They say you shouldn't take rumors seriously, but that's easier said than done.
• 迷わすまよわすCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers puzzling, perplexing, or bewildering someone, and deluding them; its center of gravity is making a person lose their bearings or waver. For the deceptive sense of 'mislead', 惑わす is usually the better choice.

Two distinct verbs with overlapping senses: reach for 「惑わす」 when 'mislead' means deluding or bewildering someone—clouding their judgment—and for 「迷わす」 when it means leaving someone puzzled, hesitant, or unsure which way to go.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 惑わすまどわすto bewilder
• 迷わすまよわすto puzzle
• 誤るあやまるto mislead
• 過つあやまつto mislead