misunderstood

adjective

mis·​un·​der·​stood (ˌ)mi-ˌsən-dər-ˈstu̇d 

1

: wrongly or imperfectly understood

a misunderstood question

Mondegreens are misunderstood lyrics, and when we asked our readers for their favorites, not surprisingly the most familiar ones got multiple votes.

—Dave Tianen

2

: not sympathetically appreciated

[Shorty] Rossi has become a name in the animal rescue community for his fierce advocacy for the interests of the pit bull, which he sees as a misunderstood breed.

—Publishers Weekly

He speaks proudly and protectively of his two directing efforts as if they were beloved but misunderstood children, and he's touchingly eager to explain their unappreciated virtues.

—Ron Rosenbaum

Examples of misunderstood in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Indigestion has long plagued us, and before modern medicine and hygiene, foodborne illnesses were as widespread as their causes were misunderstood. —Big Think, 22 Apr. 2026

Anyone who has Tourette’s or knows someone who does is well-aware that the neurological disorder is often misunderstood. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026

Without a little guidance, key functions can be misunderstood—or ignored altogether. —Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026

The Vodou Project The Vodou Project is a documentary podcast from Haitian-American producer Baudelaire Ceus that reexamines one of the world’s most misunderstood spiritual traditions. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for misunderstood

• unlikelihood
• adulthood
• babyhood
• brotherhood
• cottonwood
• fatherhood
• firewood
• fuelwood
• hardihood
• ironwood
• leatherwood
• likelihood