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

Second, could de-extinction technologies be misunderstood or have unforeseen consequences for (less than omniscient) human beings? —JSTOR Daily, 13 Nov. 2025

Exploring new faiths Some speakers touched on the notion of Vodou being misunderstood. —Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2025

Group dynamics could shift, gossip may circulate and career moves are more likely to be misunderstood. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025

Hekate is the goddess of fate and the night, who is grossly misunderstood throughout history. —Amber McBride, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 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