mistake 1 of 2

mistake

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to misunderstand
to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of the auctioneer mistook my nod for a bid, and I ended up buying a painting I don't even like

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in to confuse
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related she mistook physical attraction for love

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun mistake differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of mistake are blunder, error, lapse, and slip. While all these words mean "a departure from what is true, right, or proper," mistake implies misconception or inadvertence and usually expresses less criticism than error.

dialed the wrong number by mistake

Where would blunder be a reasonable alternative to mistake?

The words blunder and mistake can be used in similar contexts, but blunder regularly imputes stupidity or ignorance as a cause and connotes some degree of blame.

diplomatic blunders

When is it sensible to use error instead of mistake?

The synonyms error and mistake are sometimes interchangeable, but error suggests the existence of a standard or guide and a straying from the right course through failure to make effective use of this.

procedural errors

When can lapse be used instead of mistake?

While in some cases nearly identical to mistake, lapse stresses forgetfulness, weakness, or inattention as a cause.

a lapse in judgment

When could slip be used to replace mistake?

The words slip and mistake are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, slip stresses inadvertence or accident and applies especially to trivial but embarrassing mistakes.

a slip of the tongue

Examples of mistake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
But in recent weeks, with the Big Ten slate in full swing, that late-game poise has waned, while mistakes have piled up. Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024 That said, in chaotic emergency rooms and busy operating rooms, mistakes do sometimes get made. New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2024
Verb
But early treatment is challenging because the first stage of pertussis infection is easy to mistake for other respiratory diseases, says Flor Muñoz, a pediatric infectious diseases expert at Baylor College of Medicine. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2024 Tourmaline has been mistaken for other gems in the past. Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 1 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mistake 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mistake.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near mistake

Cite this Entry

“Mistake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistake. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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