misunderstanding 1 of 2

noun

(ˌ)mi-ˌsən-dər-ˈstan-diŋ How to pronounce misunderstanding (audio)
Definition of misunderstandingnext
1
as in mistake
a failure to understand correctly people once thought that there were canals on Mars because of a common misunderstanding of a report by an Italian astronomer

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2
as in dispute
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions tried to resolve their misunderstandings peacefully

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misunderstanding

2 of 2

verb

present participle of misunderstand
as in missing
to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of you misunderstood that poem because you took everything so literally

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of misunderstanding
Noun
The goal is pure pleasure, not a statement or message; the worst-case scenario is indifference or mild disappointment—not, say, horror at your fundamental misunderstanding of a long-standing personal relationship. — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026 But they could also be described as misconceptions, misunderstandings, or straight up bad information. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 1 Nov. 2026
Verb
There has already been some backlash to the project, with fans apparently misunderstanding the scope of the technology. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 9 June 2026 In an article coming tomorrow, Clint Smith explores the betrayal of Black military officers, calling out the forces of reaction for misunderstanding the nature of patriotism. — The Atlantic, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for misunderstanding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misunderstanding
  1. mistake
  2. dispute
  3. missing
  4. misinterpretation
  5. disagreement
  6. mistaking
  7. misreading
  8. altercation
Noun
  • Drivers are responsible for being alert and aware of changes, and being able to react when others make mistakes or slow down.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Instead, another parade of stupid mistakes combined with average play made a game against the Colts exciting.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of mistake
Noun
  • Heemeyer owned a muffler shop in the town and had been engaged in a long-running series of property and zoning disputes with local authorities.
    — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Having been through the NBA and NFL lockouts of 2011 and other labor disputes, McKenzie recalled just how much of a rush there can be on supplementing income if paychecks don’t resume.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of dispute
Verb
  • Rice has played in five games for the Chiefs this season, missing two with a hamstring injury.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Those of us missing the John Wick universe can take heart, because Chad Stahelski—who created that franchise—is coming back early next year with a new dystopian action film.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of missing
Noun
  • The hiring manager’s standards stop living only in people’s heads and start living in the system, applied without misinterpretation or human bias.
    — Pradeep Prasana Kanagaraj, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Sánchez, who faces an election next year, has said a misinterpretation of a Supreme Court ruling and disinformation on social media encouraged people to rush the border.
    — Suman Naishadham, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of misinterpretation
Noun
  • Agreements only hold when the team practices them in real disagreements, again and again.
    — Aaron Levy, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • But what Cunningham was trying to show in this case was belief in a collective humanity rather than focusing on political disagreements post-midterm elections, unlike some of her WNBA peers.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of disagreement
Verb
  • This could help scientists avoid mistaking geological activity for evidence of extraterrestrial organisms.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Instead, the rest of the world must learn from China without mistaking adaptation for imitation.
    — Ruby Wang, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of mistaking
Noun
  • Assuming that the Houthis would automatically act at Tehran’s command reflected a misreading of Yemeni history and of the identity markers that shape the movement’s political legitimacy.
    — Laurent Bonnefoy, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
  • But where Hwan’s Christianity is a willful, grotesque misreading of the Bible, Latif actively wrestles with his moral shortcomings.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of misreading
Noun
  • On Friday, Benson's family told CBS News Detroit that the incident stemmed from an altercation that happened years prior.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Wallace was charged in federal court last month on the same day that her successor, Cody Bass, was ordered to spend 10 days in a Douglas County, Nevada, jail for a harassment conviction stemming from an altercation at a brewpub.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of altercation

Browse Nearby Words

misunderstand
misunderstanding
misunderstandings
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Cite this Entry

“Misunderstanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misunderstanding. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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