Definition

To apply paint in a wrong or incorrect way.

Example

He mispainted the fence, leaving some spots unpainted.

Tense Forms

Conversation

I can't believe I managed to mispaint the living room wall again.

Oh no! What color did you use this time?

I thought it would look nice in blue, but it's more like a weird green.

Yikes! Maybe you should just cover it up with a different color.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Mispaint → It is formed from "mis-" (meaning wrongly or badly) and "paint" (from Old French *peindre*, meaning to apply color). The word "mispaint" means to apply color wrongly or to paint badly.

Memory Tip

Think of doing something 'wrongly' ('mis-') when you 'apply color' ('paint'). This helps you remember that 'mispaint' means to paint incorrectly.

Visually Confused Words