as in misunderstanding
a failure to understand correctly
the anthropologist's apparent incomprehension of the ceremonial rites she describes in her book surprised reviewers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of incomprehension
There is, equally, a certain childish hope that Vuong’s reader will approach him with the benevolent incomprehension of a maternal figure.
—
Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 6 May 2025
At this point, armed with insights about labor, the commodity, and the money-form, the reader may be shedding any melancholy incomprehension—but can’t yet have arrived at angry lucidity.
—Benjamin Kunkel, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
The piece, as is true of much of my reporting, grew from my own incomprehension and curiosity about what was going on.
—Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2025
Take it as an opportunity to practice sitting with your incomprehension and curiosity.
—Esther K. Choy, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for incomprehension
Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 6 May 2025
At this point, armed with insights about labor, the commodity, and the money-form, the reader may be shedding any melancholy incomprehension—but can’t yet have arrived at angry lucidity.
—Benjamin Kunkel, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
The piece, as is true of much of my reporting, grew from my own incomprehension and curiosity about what was going on.
—Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2025
Take it as an opportunity to practice sitting with your incomprehension and curiosity.
—Esther K. Choy, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for incomprehension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incomprehension
misunderstanding
Noun
-
Across North America and parts of Europe, budgeting and planning tools are increasingly used to support transparency and reduce misunderstandings around costs, helping couples manage expenses more confidently.—
Craig Lebrau,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Some Republicans, including Senator Tim Scott, called for the post to be removed, though the White House’s initial framing treated the matter as a misunderstanding rather than intentional misconduct, later attributing it to a mistake by a staffer after initially defending it as a meme.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Incomprehension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incomprehension. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
