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

Afghanistan was still a conservative society shaped by years of conflict, and students knew that certain questions could be misunderstood, draw unwanted attention or upset teachers and classmates. — Fatima Faizi, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026

Her family doesn’t believe her, but Ruth believes the creature is simply misunderstood. — Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026

From great whites and whale sharks to shark conservation and the truth behind 'Jaws,' this Shark Week special dives into one of the ocean's most misunderstood animals. — Sarah Scanlan, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026

Active listening emerges as a crucial, yet frequently misunderstood, leadership skill essential for cultivating a productive and loyal workforce. — Julia Korn, Forbes.com, 27 July 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