as in to miss
to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of
you misunderstood that poem because you took everything so literally
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of misunderstand
Despite misunderstanding the fundamentals, protectionists tell a facially compelling tale.
—
David B. McGarry, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2025
Culturally sensitive clinical care is often misunderstood as simply providing surface-level accommodations — offering kosher meals, observing Sabbath restrictions, or including a rabbi on staff.
—Devora Shabtai, Sun Sentinel, 13 May 2025
Miller misunderstands the significance of the right of habeas corpus, for starters.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 12 May 2025
According to the Oman Medical Journal, 40% to 60% of patients misunderstand or forget discharge instructions, which could lead to errors and unnecessary complications.
—Kunal Khashu, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for misunderstand
David B. McGarry, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2025
Culturally sensitive clinical care is often misunderstood as simply providing surface-level accommodations — offering kosher meals, observing Sabbath restrictions, or including a rabbi on staff.
—Devora Shabtai, Sun Sentinel, 13 May 2025
Miller misunderstands the significance of the right of habeas corpus, for starters.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 12 May 2025
According to the Oman Medical Journal, 40% to 60% of patients misunderstand or forget discharge instructions, which could lead to errors and unnecessary complications.
—Kunal Khashu, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for misunderstand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misunderstand
Verb
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Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.—
Kirsten Acuna,
People.com,
28 May 2025
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Both teams had their first two penalties saved, before Steaua eventually got themselves together to score two… which was enough because Barca missed all four of theirs.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
Verb
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But the creature is quickly adopted by Lilo (Maia Kealoha), a precocious child with a special love for animals, at a kennel where he has been mistaken for an ugly dog.—
Gregory Nussen,
Deadline,
20 May 2025
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The instinct to manage outcomes, influence how others behave, and keep everything in place can easily be mistaken for strength.—
Moira Forbes,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
Verb
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Her mother had misread something about the Property Brothers on the internet and was insisting that they were being persecuted for being Christian.—
Patricia Lockwood,
New Yorker,
18 May 2025
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Clearly the Red Sox misread things here, but with Devers the situation is a little more complicated.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2025
Verb
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But on the whole, many working in DEI argue that critics who call it discriminatory are fundamentally — and often willfully — misinterpreting their profession.—
Maria Aspan,
NPR,
27 May 2025
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Similarly, in an energy plant, an AI system designed to monitor equipment performance might misinterpret sensor data, overlooking a critical fault that could lead to catastrophic failure.—
Lucian Boldea,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
Verb
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But would her students, turned on everywhere by the dogma of political correctness, misapprehend Haynes’s aim?—
Doreen St. Félix,
The New Yorker,
22 June 2023
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Some people misapprehend it and think of as imitation.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
17 Nov. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Misunderstand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misunderstand. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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