as in misses
to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of
you misunderstood that poem because you took everything so literally
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Recent Examples of misunderstands
That claim misunderstands both the intent and the reality.
—
Nan Rich, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
That demand ignores long-standing practice, misunderstands the Bears’ legal obligations and risks undermining one of Illinois’ most important economic assets.
—Don Dewitte, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
But that view misunderstands how the Senate’s debate rules actually work.
—Jeremy Dalrymple, Oc Register, 2 Dec. 2025
But to argue that any of this research adds up to a substantial account of intelligence misunderstands the nature of such human traits and what can be expected from scientific explanations of them.
—Eric Turkheimer, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2025
In an amicus brief filed to the Supreme Court, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association and 12 other professional bodies argued that characterizing talk therapy as mere speech fundamentally misunderstands its therapeutic use and purpose.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2025
But a nurse eventually overhears Archer and Hannah discussing it, and misunderstands the situation.
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 1 Oct. 2025
This misunderstands human nature entirely.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
King was right that excluding Carrie’s commentary made And Just Like That … feel like a fundamentally different show, but that misunderstands a mechanism that made Sex and the City tick.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
Nan Rich, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
That demand ignores long-standing practice, misunderstands the Bears’ legal obligations and risks undermining one of Illinois’ most important economic assets.
—Don Dewitte, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
But that view misunderstands how the Senate’s debate rules actually work.
—Jeremy Dalrymple, Oc Register, 2 Dec. 2025
But to argue that any of this research adds up to a substantial account of intelligence misunderstands the nature of such human traits and what can be expected from scientific explanations of them.
—Eric Turkheimer, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2025
In an amicus brief filed to the Supreme Court, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association and 12 other professional bodies argued that characterizing talk therapy as mere speech fundamentally misunderstands its therapeutic use and purpose.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2025
But a nurse eventually overhears Archer and Hannah discussing it, and misunderstands the situation.
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 1 Oct. 2025
This misunderstands human nature entirely.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
King was right that excluding Carrie’s commentary made And Just Like That … feel like a fundamentally different show, but that misunderstands a mechanism that made Sex and the City tick.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misunderstands
Verb
-
Louisville sorely misses his ability to get into the paint and generate open looks for others; replacing the impact of an NBA lottery pick is nearly impossible.—
Jim Root,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
-
However, up to one in eight mammograms misses cancers, particularly for individuals with dense breast tissue, a group estimated to encompass about half of women over 40.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After an incomplete pass, Jackson misreads the defense on third down and throws another interception.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Oct. 2025
-
This badly misreads Gaza's political culture.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The stage is thus set for an Eddington-style standoff, as Hegseth arrives in South Park and immediately mistakes the race for an Antifa uprising.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
27 Nov. 2025
-
Her unfinished palace becomes a mirror to a culture that mistakes accumulation for meaning.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
If the brain misinterprets signals from the body, or if those signals are faulty, the brain may send out commands that cause harm.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Dec. 2025
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This is the Adriana who takes arguments, willfully misinterprets them, and then comes for someone at the worst possible moment.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Misunderstands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misunderstands. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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