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

2

: 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

He 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

Examples of misunderstood in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Garret Anderson, the often misunderstood and always lethal Angels slugger who starred in the 2002 World Series, has died of a heart attack. —Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026

The analyst noted that the company's recovery seems largely misunderstood by his peers on the Street. —Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026

While such cases are rare and difficult to predict, the reprot raises concerns that extreme space weather — particularly if widely misunderstood — could trigger similar reactions among vulnerable groups. —Ryan French, Space.com, 15 Apr. 2026

There is also the chance that the AI tools misunderstood meanings or context, the researchers noted. —Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for misunderstood

• unlikelihood
• adulthood
• babyhood
• brotherhood
• cottonwood
• fatherhood
• firewood
• fuelwood
• hardihood
• ironwood
• leatherwood
• likelihood