ENGLISH
REFERENCE

misunderstood

v.
B1 Intermediate US //ˌmɪsəndɝˈstʊd// UK //mɪsˌʌndəstˈʊd// mis·un·der·stood

v. not understood correctly by other people. You use this to describe someone whose ideas or character are seen in the wrong way.

v. incorrectly interpreted or appreciated by others. Often describes a person whose intentions or personality are judged unfairly due to a lack of clear communication.


SIMPLE

He feels misunderstood by his family.

CONTEXTUAL

The artist was deeply misunderstood during his lifetime, only gaining fame decades after his death.

COMPLEX

While critics dismissed the film as a failure, many modern scholars argue it was simply misunderstood by an audience unprepared for its radical narrative structure.

Synonyms
Usage

Often follows a linking verb like 'feel', 'be', or 'remain'.

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