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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 6 Jan. 2026
What’s more, in an effort to conserve cash, Saks made some key mistakes that undermined the brands’ power, robbing stores of the sense of fun and wonder that is key for a luxury retailer.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026
Yun Li, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2026
Digging into their Nordic roots, Ida and Filip also built a sauna, which some confused members of the local community initially mistook for a giant bread oven.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mistake
Noun
Read on to learn how to get every last bit of makeup off your face without irritating your skin—plus, some common mistakes to avoid.
—Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 6 Jan. 2026
What’s more, in an effort to conserve cash, Saks made some key mistakes that undermined the brands’ power, robbing stores of the sense of fun and wonder that is key for a luxury retailer.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
Buffett has also repeatedly cautioned shareholders against mistaking volatility for failure.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2026
Digging into their Nordic roots, Ida and Filip also built a sauna, which some confused members of the local community initially mistook for a giant bread oven.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mistake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistake
Noun
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But when her latest husband, discord spirit Raksh, provokes the council’s wrath, Amina must clean up his blunder, contend with Marjana’s demands for the truth…and figure out who on her crew is plotting a mutiny.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Jan. 2026
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Williamson County based Ramsey Solutions has also come up with an effective guide to avoid any regifting blunders.—
Gabrielle Chenault,
Nashville Tennessean,
28 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The federal government primarily finances supplemental food benefits, but the state’s share is determined, in part, by its management, as indicated by its rate of error when determining people’s eligibility.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
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The research depended on computer simulations, which meant that tiny adjustments to the initial state of the digital fluid (or any digital rounding errors) wouldn’t affect the fluid’s fate.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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People keep either misunderstanding or forgetting that there are not one but two revolutions going on here, the second being accelerated computing.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
4 Jan. 2026
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But people also misunderstand sharia and how it is applied, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Even seasoned travelers underestimate how quickly streaming and Bluetooth drain a phone or tablet at 35,000 feet.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
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The next time new science reveals that a chemical is much more toxic, or that the amount of pollution released from a factory had been underestimated and would cause legally unacceptable health risks, the agency would not be able to react.—
Lisa Song,
ProPublica,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Farmers’ Almanac will be gone for good after its final 2026 edition, not to be confused with The Old Farmer's Almanac, a separate publication.—
Alex Perry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
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Blue Origin also launches New Shepard from Texas The New Glenn spacecraft is not to be confused with Blue Origin's much smaller New Shepard rocket that the company launches from West Texas on brief trips taking paying passengers high above Earth's atmosphere.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Torsten Sløk, chief economist at Apollo Global Management, said forecasts of an imminent slowdown have been repeatedly wrong, and the economics profession should start grappling with its track record of misjudgments.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
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More concerning for the Seahawks than Macdonald’s misjudgment was the fact that Charbonnet’s run wasn’t close to being successful.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The reason for the different numbers of missing and rescued given by police and Archival was not immediately clear.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
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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.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After months marked by corruption, violence, and the open perversion of law, to gasp in outrage at the loss of a few tons of masonry and mortar might seem oddly misjudged.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
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On one occasion, a blunt-nosed viper misjudged the distance to its prey.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mistake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistake. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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