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
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
Political polarization in this country is such that partisans look at each other with mutual incomprehension.
—Gary Langer, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Much of the novel’s drama comes from the mutual incomprehension that arises between individuals (particularly married couples), and Eliot tracks with riveting detail the feelings and thoughts on both sides of a disagreement.
—Chelsea Leu, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for incomprehension
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
Political polarization in this country is such that partisans look at each other with mutual incomprehension.
—Gary Langer, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Much of the novel’s drama comes from the mutual incomprehension that arises between individuals (particularly married couples), and Eliot tracks with riveting detail the feelings and thoughts on both sides of a disagreement.
—Chelsea Leu, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for incomprehension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incomprehension
misunderstanding
Noun
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However, after a misunderstanding possibly stemming from his hat, a spear was thrown which was then met by musketfire, luckily ending in no deaths, according to Powell.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2025
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This shared misunderstanding can lead to no one offering support, leaving the friend feeling unnoticed and unsupported.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incomprehension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incomprehension. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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