1
as in blunder
a wrong judgment
they made a mistake when they thought the young pitcher was ready to be called up to the major leagues
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2
as in error
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
made a mistake on the exam that almost cost her a passing grade
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to underestimate
to make an incorrect judgment regarding
you seriously mistake me if you think I scare so easily
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3
as in to confuse
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related
she mistook physical attraction for love
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mistake
Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2025
Make the most of your membership by avoiding these mistakes.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2025
Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
Just last week, a friend of mine mistook her for my 28-year-old sister in a photo.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mistake
Noun
Once, Anna carried off Sacks’s medical bag and then realized her mistake.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2025
Make the most of your membership by avoiding these mistakes.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
Cass has his own problems to deal with, though: He’s supposed to rendezvous on a forested planet with someone named Porco, but his disguise as an Imperial pilot works too well, and a group of squabbling sorta-rebels mistake him for the real thing.
—Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
Just last week, a friend of mine mistook her for my 28-year-old sister in a photo.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mistake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistake
Noun
-
All the evidence points to various blunders, assumptions, policies, choices and unlucky circumstances that led to the tragedy.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Be equipped to answer this when delivering bad news by understanding the root cause of the blunder.—
Kate Wieczorek,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The law only allows schools to recognize changes made to birth certificates that were made to correct a clerical error.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 2025
-
Last month, the Campaign Finance Board denied Cuomo’s request for nearly $3 million in public matching funds due to paperwork errors.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2025
Verb
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For example, failing to collect and remit sales tax properly, or misunderstanding 1099 vs. W-2 employee classification, can result in audits and penalties.—
Abdo Riani,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
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But one mom of three has gone viral after suggesting that people are completely misunderstanding millennial culture during the Great Recession.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Many also underestimate the potential for passive income or fail to modernize outdated laundromats for higher profits.—
Jack Kelly,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
-
The achievement of winning a Europa League group the following year containing Marseille, Ajax and AEK Athens should not be underestimated, even though the first leg tie at Roma in the last 16 went horribly wrong with that 4-0 defeat.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Verb
-
And when the series takes an occasional serious turn, you'll just be confused.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
2 May 2025
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However, simply getting older doesn’t equate to consistently missing bills or appointments, having a hard time speaking with people, or feeling lost or confused in places that are familiar to you.—
Alisa Hrustic,
SELF,
1 May 2025
Verb
-
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.—
Johnny Dodd,
People.com,
3 May 2025
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Tatis finished third in the National League MVP balloting in 2021 but missed the 2022 season due to wrist surgery and a suspension following a performance-enhancing drug test.—
Steve Berman,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Verb
-
Additionally, his performance in the TGL has been notable, with fans impressed by his charisma and aura despite his worst putt at Sofi Centre, when Woods hilariously misjudged the yardage by mistake.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Apr. 2025
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Muncy’s two errors allowed the Braves to jump on them, and the second-inning outburst was extended when Andy Pages misjudged a ball in center field that clanked off his glove for a run-scoring double.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The risk, as always, is miscalculation—on both sides.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Black American lives hung in the balance, the result of poor communication between state and federal agencies (due to a massive miscalculation of how bad the storm would be) and a slow and disappointing response from FEMA.—
Dominique Fluker,
Essence,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mistake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistake. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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