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

And although stalking is a risk factor for crimes of violence and homicide, the behavior is often misunderstood or downplayed in the legal system, Pohl and Beathard said. —Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 13 Oct. 2025

There’s a fear of being misunderstood, but there’s also a cathartic freedom. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025

Among many challenges, the next president of the church will navigate how to lead a global church from its American headquarters – a church that continues to be misunderstood and stereotyped, sometimes to the point of violence. —Brittany Romanello, The Conversation, 10 Oct. 2025

Hormone therapy has long been one of the most misunderstood topics in women’s health. —Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 10 Oct. 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