leading astray

Verb

lead astray (third-person singular simple present leads astray, present participle leading astray, simple past and past participle led astray)

1. (transitive) To cause (someone) to believe an untruth.

   Synonyms:

   deceive, mislead, misinform, abuse, beglammer, counterfeit, catch, trap into, dissemble, dissimulate

2. (transitive) To misguide or misdirect.
   • To previous resentment of the wide acceptance socially of [George] Hudson was added the venom of those whose cupidity had led them astray.1960 March, N. Caplan, “A Railway Member of Parliament”, in Railway Magazine, page 207

   Synonyms:

   lead off, offlead, undirect

3. (transitive) To influence (someone) to have bad habits or to behave improperly or illegally.
   • She was led astray by questionable companions.

   Synonyms:

   corrupt, demoralize, seduce, adulterate, debauch, detort, file, immoralize, pervert, pollute