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

Schulz says the sign-up bonus itself is frequently misunderstood. —Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 9 May 2026

Interviewed on stage by a federal judge on Wednesday, Roberts was asked how the court is misunderstood. —Andrew Chung, USA Today, 7 May 2026

But given how often marginal rates are misunderstood, perhaps that wouldn’t help. —Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026

Another of his gifts, often misunderstood, was his authenticity. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 6 May 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