misunderstood
adjective
mis·un·der·stood
(ˌ)mi-ˌsən-dər-ˈstu̇d 
1
: wrongly or imperfectly understood
a misunderstood question
Mondegreens are misunderstood lyrics, and when we asked our readers for their favorites, not surprisingly the most familiar ones got multiple votes.—
Dave Tianen
Dave Tianen2
: not sympathetically appreciated
[Shorty] Rossi has become a name in the animal rescue community for his fierce advocacy for the interests of the pit bull, which he sees as a misunderstood breed.—Publishers Weekly
Publishers WeeklyHe speaks proudly and protectively of his two directing efforts as if they were beloved but misunderstood children, and he's touchingly eager to explain their unappreciated virtues.—Ron Rosenbaum
Ron RosenbaumExamples of misunderstood in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Like most common garden pests, skunks are often misunderstood creatures.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 5 Apr. 2026
Despite its significance, though, the senior deduction is one of the more misunderstood provisions in the tax code — and now there's a new one on top of it.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
With the help of journalist Gerrick Kennedy, the memoir details Brandy's meteoric rise to fame as a young teen while volleying ambition, exhaustion and self-doubt, moving through a predatory and tormenting industry and being misunderstood in the public eye.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Darrell Beavers, housing development programs director with the Oklahoma Housing Finance Authority, said the problem is often misunderstood as a simple shortage of units.
—Stephen Martin, Oklahoma Watch, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for misunderstood
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Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 5 Apr. 2026
Despite its significance, though, the senior deduction is one of the more misunderstood provisions in the tax code — and now there's a new one on top of it.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
With the help of journalist Gerrick Kennedy, the memoir details Brandy's meteoric rise to fame as a young teen while volleying ambition, exhaustion and self-doubt, moving through a predatory and tormenting industry and being misunderstood in the public eye.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Darrell Beavers, housing development programs director with the Oklahoma Housing Finance Authority, said the problem is often misunderstood as a simple shortage of units.
—Stephen Martin, Oklahoma Watch, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for misunderstood
Cite this Entry
“Misunderstood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misunderstood. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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