misunderstandings

noun

plural of misunderstanding
1
as in misinterpretations
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disagreements
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions tried to resolve their misunderstandings peacefully

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 misunderstandings As in much of Europe, tourism is a sensitive subject, so knowing the unwritten rules (and even a bit of the local language, Euskera) will help avoid misunderstandings and unlock the city’s joyful, trademark love of the table. — Marti Buckley, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Aug. 2026 But too many mixed signals can throw off an opponent’s risk calculus, giving rise to misunderstandings that can produce or worsen a crisis. — Erik Lin-Greenberg, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2026 Getting ahead of those conversations helps prevent misunderstandings once households merge and rent is due. — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 29 July 2026 According to The Gottman Institute, talking through these expectations in advance helps couples build a stronger foundation and sidestep the misunderstandings that tend to surface a few weeks after moving in. — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026 There can be one-time misunderstandings or difficult decisions taken out of context. — Jon Michail, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 As Nora’s speech and Catherine’s kind moments suggest, characters’ actions don’t consistently reflect their overall moral stance, which is often based on misunderstandings and falsehoods, its validity unknowable even to them. — Judy Berman, Time, 27 July 2026 Setting clear boundaries with loved ones about sharing personal moments online can help prevent misunderstandings. — Parents, 25 July 2026 Carlson, however, dismissed the complaints from rival programs as largely stemming from either jealousy or misunderstandings. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 23 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misunderstandings
  1. misinterpretations
  2. disagreements
  3. mistakes
  4. disputes
  5. misapprehensions
  6. quarrels
  7. altercations
  8. controversies
Noun
  • The researchers say the inability of LLMs to provide the correct location is an inherent flaw that arises from training biases or from misinterpretations of instructions within the current context.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2026
  • An agent can’t reliably detect its own misinterpretations using the same model that generated them.
    — Stu Sjouwerman, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Definition of misinterpretations
Noun
  • The Arizona Republican said his respect for Ossoff’s character outweighed their policy disagreements.
    — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • In the years before David’s death, Herb claims that David had repeatedly attempted to buy him out of SFG, but those talks broke down over disagreements on the valuation of his stake.
    — Kirk Ogunrinde, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of disagreements
Noun
  • As a more hands-off or less stressful option, many Americans turn to a bread machine for an easier homemade bread option, but this appliance presents a new set of questions and potential bread machine mistakes.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Aug. 2026
  • An additional 2-foot buffer allows for the homeowner who prefers more of a flood safety cushion and for any minor construction mistakes.
    — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of mistakes
Noun
  • Four seasons later, the veteran defensive tackle has returned to a different team — one that missed the playoffs for the first time in six years, is reeling over contract disputes and is looking to rebuild on both sides of the ball.
    — Abby DiSalvo, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The space is more neutral, particularly if disputes between roommates must be mediated or there are other sensitive matters, according to Max Koskoff, associate director for regional campus programs.
    — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of disputes
Noun
  • Meanwhile, the New Atheists were making hay of the fact that such faithful misapprehensions about nature were easily disproved by scientific discovery.
    — Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Ronald Reagan did not suffer from such misapprehensions.
    — Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Definition of misapprehensions
Noun
  • On the new series, some House of Stassi castmembers raised their quarrels with Maloney joining their cast.
    — McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Candi is the family mediator Like any father-daughter coaching dynamic, Corey and Coco have had their fair share of quarrels on the tennis court.
    — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026
Definition of quarrels
Noun
  • In court filings, ex-wife Emily Moreno alleged that Miller has repeatedly had physical and verbal altercations with her attorney, Andrew Zashin, after recent court hearings in an ongoing custody battle.
    — Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • She's also stood up for Caitlin Clark when some, uh, jealous opponents have gone after her with overly physical fouls or altercations, which instantly increased her popularity among Clark's massive fan base.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of altercations
Noun
  • As Crowley sprinted across the state to capture undecided voters, Hong was batting down controversies.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • But controversies tied to the people around him — most recently antisemitic and white nationalist social media posts by his son-in-law — have dogged him throughout his campaign.
    — Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of controversies

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Cite this Entry

“Misunderstandings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misunderstandings. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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