misunderstand

mis·un·der·stand

verb \(ˌ)mi-ˌsən-dər-ˈstand\

mis·un·der·stood\-ˈstu̇d\mis·un·der·stand·ing

Definition of MISUNDERSTAND

transitive verb

1

: to fail to understand

2

: to interpret incorrectly

Examples of MISUNDERSTAND

1. Don't misunderstand me—I'm not criticizing your decision.
2. He feels that the critics have completely misunderstood his movies.
3. She expressed herself in clear terms that no one could misunderstand.

First Known Use of MISUNDERSTAND

13th century

Related to MISUNDERSTAND

Synonyms: misapprehend, misconstrue, misinterpret, misknow, misperceive, misread, miss, mistake

Antonyms: appreciate, apprehend, catch, comprehend, conceive, fathom, get, grasp, grok, know, make out, penetrate, perceive, savvy, see, seize, take in, understand

Related Words: misconceive, misdeem, misjudge; mishear

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Rhymes with MISUNDERSTAND

adrenal gland, analysand, back of one's hand, Bechuanaland, cloud-cuckoo-land, digestive gland, endocrine gland, fantasyland, Franz Josef Land, head-in-the-sand, mammary gland, multiplicand, pineal gland, Somaliland, Sudetenland, to beat the band, vacationland, videoland, Witwatersrand