1
as in mistake
a failure to understand correctly
people once thought that there were canals on Mars because of a common misunderstanding of a report by an Italian astronomer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dispute
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
tried to resolve their misunderstandings peacefully
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in missing
to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of
you misunderstood that poem because you took everything so literally
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of misunderstanding
Adam Ciralsky, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026
An attorney for Vantage Point has said the issue was a misunderstanding and the farm is still fully operational.
—Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 18 Mar. 2026
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 4 Jan. 2026
Interestingly, people often described fears that were based on misunderstanding how technology works – or fails to work.
—Alaina Vandervoort Burns, The Conversation, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misunderstanding
Noun
These weren’t misunderstandings.
—Adam Ciralsky, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026
An attorney for Vantage Point has said the issue was a misunderstanding and the farm is still fully operational.
—Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
People keep either misunderstanding or forgetting that there are not one but two revolutions going on here, the second being accelerated computing.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 4 Jan. 2026
Interestingly, people often described fears that were based on misunderstanding how technology works – or fails to work.
—Alaina Vandervoort Burns, The Conversation, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misunderstanding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misunderstanding
Noun
-
But Colorado was lethal in its execution on the counterattack and capitalized on Sporting KC’s mistakes to win 4-1.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The previous supreme leader made the mistake of enriching uranium but never building a nuclear weapon; in effect, his nuclear program went far enough to provoke the West into sanctions and military strikes but not far enough to provide protection.—
Nicholas D. Kristof,
Mercury News,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Officers said they were called to the area for a domestic dispute.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Merit filed for bankruptcy last July and became embroiled in a thorny legal dispute with a former broadcasting business partner.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Searches for the missing workers began late Friday after officials deployed unmanned firefighting robots to cool the structure and conducted a safety inspection.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
-
More questions for Connie and Austin Herbst Gary Herbst went missing in 2013.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Families have seen how silence can lead to misinterpretation, resentment among siblings or prolonged disputes.—
Bruce Helmer,
Twin Cities,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The danger is not simply misinterpretation.—
Yusuf Tuggar,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Over the next months, Barr made clear his own disagreements with the foundations of the Russia investigation, moving to dismiss a false-statements prosecution that Mueller had brought against former national security adviser Michael Flynn, even though that investigation ended in a guilty plea.—
Eric Tucker,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2026
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The onboard disagreement escalated as other passengers also sought to use the underseat space reserved for the guide dog, raising questions about enforcing service animal rules on commercial flights.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Tucked away off Lagos’ Admiralty Way main road, you’d be forgiven for mistaking its polite green exterior for something residential upon viewing.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Mar. 2026
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Interviewers may favor candidates who share their alma mater or communication style, mistaking familiarity for fit, Naumann says.—
Kristin Stoller,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Manager Mark DeRosa’s misspeaking or misreading of the tiebreaker scenarios didn’t sink his club.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
In their response, government prosecutors criticized the Sansons’ arguments as off-target and based on a misreading of the law.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Deputies responded on the night of March 20 to an address along 6th Avenue following reports of a verbal altercation at a gathering.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
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Not for nothing — no one in this altercation is wearing a helmet on their bike!—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misunderstanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misunderstanding. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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