misunderstood
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of misunderstood
First recorded in 1585–95; mis- 1 + understood
Explanation
The adjective misunderstood is used to describe someone or something that is not correctly or fully grasped by others. A joke that is misunderstood will likely fall flat, as the audience just doesn't get it. In the most basic sense, the word misunderstood is the past participle of misunderstand. Misunderstood homework instructions will likely result in the students turning in the wrong work. The word misunderstood is more commonly used to describe people who are, or feel, unappreciated because others don't see their true feelings, motives, or brilliance: Think of a misunderstood genius, like Galileo, whose ideas were not appreciated in his own time, or a misunderstood character in a story, whose "good" reasons for doing bad things are not known to the other characters.
Vocabulary lists containing misunderstood
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The short answer: Your accountant has their wires crossed — or you may have misunderstood what they said.
From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026
As Amazon founder Jeff Bezos liked to say: You have to be willing to be misunderstood if you’re going to innovate.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026
He has since spoken to the manager of the branch, which has removed the sign, but said teenagers were often misunderstood.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
Were humans actually surviving in colder glacial conditions, or had scientists misunderstood what the climate in Britain was really like at the time?
From Science Daily • May 13, 2026
But I considered myself to be genuinely misunderstood because my parents and I were not having the same life experiences: They had not grown up in America.
From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
