as in misunderstanding
a failure to understand correctly
the anthropologist's apparent incomprehension of the ceremonial rites she describes in her book surprised reviewers
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Recent Examples of incomprehension
There is, equally, a certain childish hope that Vuong’s reader will approach him with the benevolent incomprehension of a maternal figure.
—
Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 6 May 2025
At this point, armed with insights about labor, the commodity, and the money-form, the reader may be shedding any melancholy incomprehension—but can’t yet have arrived at angry lucidity.
—Benjamin Kunkel, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
The piece, as is true of much of my reporting, grew from my own incomprehension and curiosity about what was going on.
—Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2025
Take it as an opportunity to practice sitting with your incomprehension and curiosity.
—Esther K. Choy, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for incomprehension
Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 6 May 2025
At this point, armed with insights about labor, the commodity, and the money-form, the reader may be shedding any melancholy incomprehension—but can’t yet have arrived at angry lucidity.
—Benjamin Kunkel, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
The piece, as is true of much of my reporting, grew from my own incomprehension and curiosity about what was going on.
—Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2025
Take it as an opportunity to practice sitting with your incomprehension and curiosity.
—Esther K. Choy, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for incomprehension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incomprehension
misunderstanding
Noun
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Overcoming challenges to inclusive play The drive to promote inclusivity in play areas isn’t without challenges, the most significant of which is a misunderstanding of what makes a play spot wholly inclusive.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
5 Jan. 2026
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The book describes the transition of the fictional Grinch, who had focused on the misunderstanding of materialism but was transformed by love and holiday spirit into a helpful, caring being who became part of the community.—
Karie Angell Luc,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Incomprehension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incomprehension. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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