misunderestimate meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

misunderestimate

verb

Etymology From mis- + underestimate, perhaps under influence of misunderstand.

Nonstandard To underestimate mistakenly or wrongly; to misestimate with an error on the lower side.

Malapropism or humorous

. . .is almost sure to misunderstand and misunderestimate the significance of the question at hand.1897 April 17, “American Diplomacy on the Bosphorous”, in The Outlook:
Now in the very earliest years of the eighteenth century it is understandable that, owing to the inevitable, due to our never-to-be-misunderestimated Frederick the Gross . . .1975, Thomas Merton, My Argument With the Gestapo:

4 more examples

And I think after Three Mile Island, not only does the NRC itself understand that it sadly misunderestimated the number of ways in . . .1980, Accident at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Powerplant: Oversight Hearings:
. . . not only the disciples within their accounts, had seriously misunderestimated the life and teaching of Jesus.1992, Adelbert Denaux, John and the Synoptics:
Whatever happened to Espy? Well, what happened to Espy is what happens to people whether you're a former congressman or not. If you understand the power -- if you misunderestimate the power of the intense bureaucracy in these agencies and departments and federal institutions, you go, they stay.1997 Aug. 29, John Conyers (D-MI), "Delivers Remarks to the Department of Agriculture's Coalition of Minority Employees"
Hence, while anticipating incoming fire, here are several factors for why even the most liberal of Democrats should not "misunderestimate" — my favorite Bushism — our prez.2003 April 30, Joel Connelly, Seattle Post-Intelligencer: