Definition

1. Verb:
   • To calculate or judge incorrectly: To make an error in estimation, calculation, or assessment of something, such as a quantity, value, or a person's qualities.

Usage

• The verb "misestimate" is used to describe the action of forming an incorrect judgment or calculation. It often implies a significant error in prediction or evaluation.
• It is a transitive verb and is typically followed by a direct object (what was misestimated).
• Common contexts include financial projections, project timelines, resource requirements, and assessments of character or ability.

Examples

• Verb:
  • The contractor misestimated the cost of materials, leading to a budget overrun.
  • We misestimated the time needed to complete the survey.
  • She misestimated his willingness to compromise, which stalled the negotiations.

Advanced Usage

• "to misestimate by": To specify the degree or margin of the error.
  • The analyst misestimated the company's revenue by several million dollars.
• "to misestimate as": To incorrectly categorize or label in the estimation.
  • He misestimated her quiet demeanor as a lack of confidence.

Variants and Related Words

• Misestimation (noun): The act or result of misestimating.
  • The project's failure was due to a misestimation of the risks involved.
• Miscalculate (verb): A close synonym, often used interchangeably, though "miscalculate" can imply a more numerical error.
• Misjudge (verb): To form an incorrect opinion or conclusion about someone or something; often overlaps with "misestimate" in contexts of personal assessment.

Synonyms

• Miscalculate: To calculate wrongly.
• Misjudge: To judge or assess incorrectly.
• Underestimate: To estimate something to be smaller or less important than it actually is. (A specific type of misestimation).
• Overestimate: To estimate something to be greater or more important than it actually is. (A specific type of misestimation).

Phrasal Verbs

Related Idioms

Verb

1. calculate incorrectly
   • I miscalculated the number of guests at the wedding
2. judge incorrectly
   • I had misestimated his determination