misunderstand
verb
mis·un·der·stand
(ˌ)mi-ˌsən-dər-ˈstand 
misunderstood
(ˌ)mi-ˌsən-dər-ˈstu̇d
; misunderstanding
; misunderstanding
Synonyms
Examples of misunderstand in a Sentence
Don't misunderstand me—I'm not criticizing your decision.
He feels that the critics have completely misunderstood his movies.
She expressed herself in clear terms that no one could misunderstand.
Recent Examples on the Web
Attorney calls arrest ‘misunderstanding’ Louisville police are expected to make a statement about the arrest on Friday after reviewing video of the incident, a senior law enforcement official said.
—
Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 17 May 2024
Thomas said people can oppose Israel’s actions without being anti-Semitic and believed some supporters of Israel misunderstood what its critics want changed.
—Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 5 May 2024
That common response misunderstands the reality of addiction, said Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
—Lauren Peace, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
The inclusion of CarPlay, as well as digital key functions through Apple’s Wallet feature, came as a surprise to some analysts, who say that the DOJ may be misunderstanding the utility and functions of the phone-mirroring system.
—Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 21 Mar. 2024
Moreover, conflating bots with women misunderstands the nature of misogyny.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Becker said the groups misunderstand his intentions and that conversations about their concerns are ongoing.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 11 Apr. 2024
After many years in the trenches as an advocate, Castillo believes there is a high level of misunderstanding about the Latino community.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024
That discomfort and lack of preparation can pose a big problem for workplace harmony—some employees may misunderstand DEI initiatives, while others may feel unprotected by their leaders.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 17 May 2024
Thomas said people can oppose Israel’s actions without being anti-Semitic and believed some supporters of Israel misunderstood what its critics want changed.
—Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 5 May 2024
That common response misunderstands the reality of addiction, said Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
—Lauren Peace, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
The inclusion of CarPlay, as well as digital key functions through Apple’s Wallet feature, came as a surprise to some analysts, who say that the DOJ may be misunderstanding the utility and functions of the phone-mirroring system.
—Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 21 Mar. 2024
Moreover, conflating bots with women misunderstands the nature of misogyny.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Becker said the groups misunderstand his intentions and that conversations about their concerns are ongoing.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 11 Apr. 2024
After many years in the trenches as an advocate, Castillo believes there is a high level of misunderstanding about the Latino community.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024
That discomfort and lack of preparation can pose a big problem for workplace harmony—some employees may misunderstand DEI initiatives, while others may feel unprotected by their leaders.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'misunderstand.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Misunderstand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misunderstand. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
misunderstand
verb
mis·un·der·stand
(ˌ)mis-ˌən-dər-ˈstand
misunderstood
-ˈstu̇d
; misunderstanding
; misunderstanding
1
: to fail to understand
2
: to interpret incorrectly
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