1
as in blunders
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
Relevance
2
as in errors
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 misunderstands
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
as in underestimates
to make an incorrect judgment regarding
you seriously mistake me if you think I scare so easily
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in confuses
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related
she mistook physical attraction for love
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mistakes
Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
If the Wildcats cut back on their mistakes.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
The latter style should help stress the Dolphins and perhaps force them into mistakes, as Indianapolis did under new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo last weekend.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Corners Ahkello Witherspoon and Emmanuel Forbes play physically with receiver Calvin Ridley and force him into more mistakes on the ball like his two Week 1 drops.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
The emotional record, shared alongside a video and lyrics posted to Instagram, hears Thugger addressing infidelity, loyalty, fractured friendships, while taking full accountability for his mistakes.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Each exercise in the book includes clear instructions on how to perform it, common mistakes to avoid, checkpoints for progress, and specific goals to achieve.
—Maria Williams, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
And without making three sometimes fatal common pruning mistakes.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025
The Jayhawks will attempt to learn from their mistakes during an upcoming off week.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
Hannah Kerns, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
The scene in which Junshik mistakes his family members for lucky strangers would work beautifully in a movie.
—Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2025
Augustus Stonehurst & the Avian Wednesday sends Thing to Willow Hill to look for Stonehurst after Fester mistakes the lunch lady for Lois.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2025
More often, though, the series simply mistakes tragic backstory for meaningful character development.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
The boss sees one polished performance and mistakes it for collective strength.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Most shark bites occur because a shark mistakes the human for a fish or the human invades the shark's space, according to a report by the Florida Museum.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
It was all centered around the idea that mistakes equal failure and ultimately, the loss of any chance at a happy or rewarding life.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 14 Aug. 2025
My body mistakes fear for emptiness, exhaustion for need.
—Alaa Alqaisi
august 13, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
Rinzel has already been hit up by some of the other prospects for his perspective on rookie camp, on the climb to the NHL and the developmental process, on how to play with aggression and the confidence to make plays rather than with hesitation and the fear of making mistakes.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
If the Wildcats cut back on their mistakes.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
The latter style should help stress the Dolphins and perhaps force them into mistakes, as Indianapolis did under new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo last weekend.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Corners Ahkello Witherspoon and Emmanuel Forbes play physically with receiver Calvin Ridley and force him into more mistakes on the ball like his two Week 1 drops.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
The emotional record, shared alongside a video and lyrics posted to Instagram, hears Thugger addressing infidelity, loyalty, fractured friendships, while taking full accountability for his mistakes.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Each exercise in the book includes clear instructions on how to perform it, common mistakes to avoid, checkpoints for progress, and specific goals to achieve.
—Maria Williams, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
And without making three sometimes fatal common pruning mistakes.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025
The Jayhawks will attempt to learn from their mistakes during an upcoming off week.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
Younger Recently divorced and adjusting to life as an empty nester, fortysomething Liza Miller (Sutton Foster) gains a boost of confidence once a 26-year-old tattoo artist mistakes her for someone his age.
—Hannah Kerns, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
The scene in which Junshik mistakes his family members for lucky strangers would work beautifully in a movie.
—Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2025
Augustus Stonehurst & the Avian Wednesday sends Thing to Willow Hill to look for Stonehurst after Fester mistakes the lunch lady for Lois.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2025
More often, though, the series simply mistakes tragic backstory for meaningful character development.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
The boss sees one polished performance and mistakes it for collective strength.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Most shark bites occur because a shark mistakes the human for a fish or the human invades the shark's space, according to a report by the Florida Museum.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
It was all centered around the idea that mistakes equal failure and ultimately, the loss of any chance at a happy or rewarding life.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 14 Aug. 2025
My body mistakes fear for emptiness, exhaustion for need.
—Alaa Alqaisi
august 13, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistakes
Noun
-
Buffalo, known for end-of-half blunders in past years, scored a field goal as the first half expired after moving the ball 48 yards in three plays (including a spike).—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Since the election, Reform has tried to refashion itself from a protest vote party to one that could govern – untried and inexperienced, but ready to step in if the Labour Party buckles under its own blunders, and the once-mighty Conservatives drift further into political irrelevance.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Red Sox committed three errors, including two by second baseman David Hamilton.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The Cordell report has since been discredited — missing transcripts, factual errors and even confusion of key witnesses.—
Matthew J. Frauenfeld,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The two men each say the other misunderstands the impacts of Senate Bill 1.—
Shelley Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Aug. 2025
-
This comes from an internal drive shaped by years of navigating a world that often misunderstands them.—
Alison Escalante,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In companies where the business still underestimates AI’s potential but the IT function is eager to move, the challenge is different.—
Alex Brueckmann,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And so an urban tunnel not only blocks some satellites, but confuses the listeners as to which are direct or reflected signals.—
Steve Tengler,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The survey then gets adjusted to try to capture the parts of the labor market the survey misses.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
But any delays could mean that Wheeler misses a significant chunk of next season.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But the Fed just kind of misjudges what's going on and pushes too hard on interest rates and pushes the economy in.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Attorney Michael Barasch has remained one of the program's fiercest advocates, lobbying in Washington and to lawmakers through dozens of trips to the nation's capital.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Wilson built a remarkable football life with those nine straight winning seasons out of the gate, including eight with double-digit victories that earned trips to the playoffs.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mistakes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistakes. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share