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

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
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
  • But the team with the biggest quarterback blunder from 2018 was the Arizona Cardinals, who made the decision to trade up to the No. 10 pick to take Josh Rosen.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • This week’s White House Report Card could have been a bad one, considering court rulings against President Donald Trump, staffing blunders, and a lack of movement on his tariff war that is starting to scare his supporters.
    Paul Bedard, The Washington Examiner, 19 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • But financial experts told USA TODAY people generally overestimate their earnings and underestimate their spending.
    Rachel Barber, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Yamazaki Home Adjustable Lid & Pan Organizer $46 Amazon $47 Yamazaki $47 Yamazaki Don’t underestimate the benefit of grabbing the relevant cookware without having to do some sort of kitchen pot-and-pan Jenga.
    Alex Ronan, Architectural Digest, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • And when the series takes an occasional serious turn, you'll just be confused.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 2 May 2025
  • 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
  • In two weeks, loan holders will start the process of taking money from the paychecks of borrowers who've missed their payments for 270 days or more.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • These devices are not medical-grade tools and can sometimes produce false positives or miss critical health issues.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Williams misjudged his header and the ball dropped for Tel, who blasted a left-footed shot into the stands.
    Jay Harris, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The military also misjudged the militant group's capabilities.
    MOHAMMAD JAHJOUH, WAFAA SHURAFA, NATALIE MELZER AND TIA GOLDENBERG THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, arkansasonline.com, 28 Feb. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Mistake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistake. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

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