as in misunderstanding
a failure to understand correctly
his misinterpretation of the ambiguously worded instructions was hardly his fault
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Recent Examples of misinterpretation
Adam Serwer on perpetual misinterpretations of Tolkien, and why Elon Musk needs Dungeons and Dragons to be racist.
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Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2025
Instead of clarifying the path forward, the very words meant to unify teams sow misinterpretation, confusion, and drift.
—Andrea Belk Olson, Harvard Business Review, 10 Nov. 2025
Many women who have endured violence within Christian homes wish the church understood that silence, misinterpretation of Scripture, and misplaced calls for forgiveness can deepen trauma.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Technocrats once relied on quiet back channels to clarify intent, but now messages move through media, and often conflicting social posts, where misinterpretation thrives.
—Lizzi C. Lee, Time, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misinterpretation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misinterpretation
misunderstanding
Noun
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Overcoming challenges to inclusive play The drive to promote inclusivity in play areas isn’t without challenges, the most significant of which is a misunderstanding of what makes a play spot wholly inclusive.—
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The book describes the transition of the fictional Grinch, who had focused on the misunderstanding of materialism but was transformed by love and holiday spirit into a helpful, caring being who became part of the community.—
Cite this Entry
“Misinterpretation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misinterpretation. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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