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misunderstood

[mis-uhn-der-stoo d]
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adjective

improperly understood or interpreted.
not appreciated.

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RELATED WORDS

wrong, mistaken, misconceived

Nearby words

  1. mistryst,
  2. misty,
  3. misty-eyed,
  4. misunderstand,
  5. misunderstanding,
  6. misusage,
  7. misuse,
  8. misuser,
  9. misventure,
  10. misword

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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for misunderstood

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
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper