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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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 mistake
EW.com, 26 June 2025
The answer probably lies within some combination of the following mistakes.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 26 June 2025
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 22 June 2025
But don’t mistake the lack of crowds for a lack of beauty; North Cascades is stunning, with more than 300 glaciers spread across the jagged peaks of Washington’s high alpine.
—Graham Averill, Outside Online, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for mistake
Noun
Lots of great shows make mistakes; fewer can course correct their way out of disappointment.
—EW.com, 26 June 2025
The answer probably lies within some combination of the following mistakes.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 26 June 2025
Verb
The damage done by carpet beetles can sometimes be mistaken for moth damage.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 22 June 2025
But don’t mistake the lack of crowds for a lack of beauty; North Cascades is stunning, with more than 300 glaciers spread across the jagged peaks of Washington’s high alpine.
—Graham Averill, Outside Online, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for mistake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistake
Noun
-
Even with good intentions, these salon blunders are better avoided, according to experts.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
19 June 2025
-
Other big moments in Trump’s presidency include the leak of U.S. military attack plans to Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, what was widely considered to be the first major blunder of his second term.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Noun
-
That poll surveyed 658 Virginia residents between May 12 and May 19, and has a weighted margin of error of 5.25 percent.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
-
Many small business workers may not have digital access or face language barriers when missing paperwork or tech errors can result in automatic loss of coverage.—
Rhett Buttle,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
Verb
-
To critics, Vance misunderstood Europe's emphasis on social cohesion.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 June 2025
-
In that ruling, the Supreme Court said lower courts were misunderstanding their methodology.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
3 June 2025
Verb
-
Additionally, gold remains an unconventional holding for many institutional and high-net-worth investors, who may underestimate its historical returns and diversification benefits.—
Alex Shahidi,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
-
Still, brands should not underestimate the impact that private label players are having on the market.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
23 June 2025
Verb
-
Map their journey to spot every gap, make buying effortless with fewer steps, communicate clearly so no one gets confused, add personal touches that create connection, and follow up fast to turn buyers into advocates.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
-
Letters: Washington, D.C., has a deficit of humanity Do not confuse my warning to Israel for a shred of understanding for what Hamas did on Oct. 7, 2023.—
Thomas L. Friedman,
Mercury News,
14 June 2025
Verb
-
Text messages from the couple suggest the two were both having affairs before Suzanne Morphew went missing.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
20 June 2025
-
The Pacers missed their first eight shots and got down 10-2.—
Tim Reynolds,
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2025
Verb
-
In 2005, Wycombe Wanderers’ Nathan Tyson got down on all fours to head a ball over the line after the Wrexham goalkeeper had misjudged the bounce.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
-
The dam finally broke in the 10th inning when Padres left fielder Brandon Lockridge misjudged Andy Pages’ drive.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
10 June 2025
Noun
-
Russian military bloggers have been largely critical of Iran over its military failures, blaming its strategic miscalculations.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
19 June 2025
-
The most immediate risk at the present is that of retaliation, miscalculation, and escalation, which could spiral into a regional conflict or all out war.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mistake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistake. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share