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.

—Publisher's 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

When those two go rogue, Ulysses enlists Gunderson’s misunderstood adult child, Alex (Jess McLeod), who’s like the wide-eyed kid to Odenkirk’s Shane, in this movie’s twisted-Western logic. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025

Yet, for all its importance and evolving demands, accounting is still often misunderstood. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025

Kindness is often misunderstood in leadership. —Kiran Mann, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

As Castle Rock’s misunderstood bad boy with a heart of gold, River Phoenix, older brother of Joaquin, imbued Chris with an uncommon depth. —Sezin Devi Koehler September 1, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025

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