Juxtaproxy

A person or thing that is close to being what it truly is, but slightly misaligned or shaped by it's percieved misinterpretation.

Error in judgement.

1) John fell into his juxtaproxy trying to impress his friends again. I was he would just be himself.

2) From a distance I thought I had seen a rabbit cross the road, but it turned out to be a juxtaproxy. It was a tumbleweed.