misunderstood

[mis-uhn-der-stoo d]

See more synonyms for misunderstood on Thesaurus.com

adjective

improperly understood or interpreted.
not appreciated.

Origin of misunderstood

First recorded in 1585–95; mis-¹ + understood

Related formshalf-mis·un·der·stood, adjectiveun·mis·un·der·stood, adjective

misunderstand

[mis-uhn-der-stand]

verb (used with object), mis·un·der·stood, mis·un·der·stand·ing.

to take (words, statements, etc.) in a wrong sense; understand wrongly.
to fail to understand or interpret rightly the words or behavior of.

Origin of misunderstand

First recorded in 1150–1200, misunderstand is from the Middle English word misunderstanden. See mis-¹, understand

Related formsmis·un·der·stand·er, noun

Synonyms for misunderstand

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1. misconstrue, misapprehend, misinterpret.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for misunderstood

wrong, mistaken, misconceived

Examples from the Web for misunderstood

Contemporary Examples of misunderstood

As a professed bi-sexual, Evans is misunderstood by those who find her choices offensive.
Risky Business or None of Your Business? Gay XXX Films and the Condom Question
Aurora Snow
November 1, 2014
Smiths fandom was an once small and semi-exclusive club, reserved for the clever, literary, and misunderstood teenager.
This Charming Man: Meet 'Ronnissey,' Brooklyn's Fake Morrissey
Michael Moynihan
September 10, 2014
“Haters gonna hate” makes the person who says it into an automatic martyr, persecuted, misunderstood, maligned.
Why We Should Hate 'Haters Gonna Hate'
Tim Teeman
August 25, 2014
Jonathan Edwards is one of the most misunderstood individuals in American history.
The Hellish Sermons of Jonathan Edwards, Malign Evangelist
Matthew Paul Turner
August 24, 2014
His fame is essentially on the back of a powerful business titan who misunderstood his original work.
The Author Of The Summer's Hit Paranoid Fantasy Opens Up
William O’Connor
August 15, 2014

Historical Examples of misunderstood

Hester did not like the remark, and he fancied from her look she had misunderstood him.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
I make this statement now in order not to be misunderstood when later I may say that God must be this or that.
The Conquest of Fear
Basil King
"You misunderstood me, Miss Gunn," said the doctor, now himself again.
Hetty's Strange History
Anonymous
She misunderstood: he laughed, but his nervousness was genuine.
Alice Adams
Booth Tarkington
Do you know what it is to be misunderstood—to be despised without deserving it?'
Wilfrid Cumbermede
George MacDonald

British Dictionary definitions for misunderstood

misunderstood

adjective

not properly or sympathetically understooda misunderstood work of art; a misunderstood adolescent

misunderstand

verb -stands, -standing or -stood

to fail to understand properly

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for misunderstood

adj.

1590s, past participle adjective from misunderstand.

misunderstand

c.1200; see mis- (1) + understand. Related: Misunderstood; misunderstanding.