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

These strange yet sublime figures offer an escape from a world that’s become increasingly misunderstood amid raging geopolitical strife. —Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025

Bondi has suggested the records on her desk were misunderstood to be a list. —Nik Popli, Time, 16 July 2025

This will often involve examining whether the corporation qualifies under treaty terms, including the often misunderstood LoB clauses. —Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025

What works in Toronto might be completely misunderstood in Seoul—or worse, considered offensive. —Dr. Bin Tang, Forbes.com, 20 June 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