misunderstandable
Prone to confusion
Misunderstandable describes something liable to be misunderstood—unclear, ambiguous, or easily misinterpreted: The instructions were so misunderstandable that half the class got it wrong.
The word is awkward and rarely used; people more often say easy to misunderstand or simply unclear.
Causing mental confusion
- bafflingImpossible to understand
- bewilderingCausing utter confusion
- disorientingCausing loss of direction
- mystifyingCausing complete confusion
muddling · befuddling · confounding · puzzling · discombobulating · misleading · jumbled · garbled
Uncertain in meaning
- polysemousHaving multiple meanings
- vagueUnclear, ill-defined
- indefiniteNot precisely determined
- indeterminateNot exactly known
imprecise · noncommittal · double-edged · open-ended · multivalent · unclear · woolly · ambivalent
Obscure in meaning
- enigmaticPuzzling and obscure
- opaqueImpassable to light
- murkyDark and unclear
- nebulousUnclear and formless
inscrutable · arcane · esoteric · abstruse · elliptical · veiled · shrouded · hidden
Incorrectly understood another's meaning
- misreadInterpret text incorrectly
- misapprehendedUnderstood incorrectly
- mistakenIncorrectly understood or believed
- misjudgedAssessed incorrectly
misrepresented · distorted · twisted · garbled · mangled · warped · skewed · perverted
Elaborately detailed, many parts
- complicatedDifficult to understand
- convolutedExcessively complex or twisted
- elaborateComplex and detailed
- nuancedHaving fine distinctions
subtle · byzantine · labyrinthine · tangled · knotty · involved · multifaceted · layered
perplexing
Causing mental confusion
- bafflingImpossible to understand
- bewilderingCausing utter confusion
- disorientingCausing loss of direction
mystifying · muddling · befuddling · confounding · puzzling · discombobulating · misleading · jumbled · garbled · scrambled
equivocal
Uncertain in meaning
- polysemousHaving multiple meanings
- vagueUnclear, ill-defined
- indefiniteNot precisely determined
indeterminate · imprecise · noncommittal · double-edged · open-ended · multivalent · unclear · woolly · ambivalent · slippery
cryptic
Obscure in meaning
nebulous · inscrutable · arcane · esoteric · abstruse · elliptical · veiled · shrouded · hidden · coded
misconstrued
Incorrectly understood another's meaning
- misreadInterpret text incorrectly
- misapprehendedUnderstood incorrectly
- mistakenIncorrectly understood or believed
misjudged · misrepresented · distorted · twisted · garbled · mangled · warped · skewed · perverted · misquoted
intricate
Elaborately detailed, many parts
- complicatedDifficult to understand
- convolutedExcessively complex or twisted
- elaborateComplex and detailed
nuanced · subtle · byzantine · labyrinthine · tangled · knotty · involved · multifaceted · layered · dense
misunderstandableclear
Without obstruction or fog
crystal clear · unambiguous · unmistakable · understandable · comprehensible
understand, misunderstand, misconception, understandable, misunderstanding, misunderstood, unintelligible, misinterpretation, misunderstands