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
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.
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Recent Examples of mistake
Noah White, Miami Herald, 10 Nov. 2025
Hoover finished 319 yards on 34-of-50 passing, but his two turnovers were critical mistakes that led to TCU’s slow start in the first half.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Nov. 2025
Harvard Business Review, 5 Nov. 2025
Some people, Risker said, also mistake the boxy-looking museum building for something other than a museum.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mistake
Noun
Analysis of film to break down — dismantle — mistakes.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 10 Nov. 2025
Hoover finished 319 yards on 34-of-50 passing, but his two turnovers were critical mistakes that led to TCU’s slow start in the first half.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
Marketers often mistake visibility for readiness, assuming that buzz and media coverage drive consumer adoption of new technologies.
—Harvard Business Review, 5 Nov. 2025
Some people, Risker said, also mistake the boxy-looking museum building for something other than a museum.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mistake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistake
Noun
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Reminded of a financial blunder?—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
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The series had so many moments — center fielders trucking left fielders, base-running blunders, walk offs, extra-innings games.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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That does leave retailers less margin for error and requires a better mastery of data analytics to improve demand forecasting—making sure that what is on offer matches what shoppers want.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
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Kelly did not disclose what structural engineering issues the building had, but said that the company's structural engineering firm informed Amazon of its error in a statement without elaborating.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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While many people get covid after receiving a covid shot, because the vaccine’s ability to prevent infection wears off pretty fast, some misunderstand the purpose of the shot, said Otto Yang, an infectious disease specialist at UCLA Health.—
Phillip Reese,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
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So both sides have misunderstood his constituency.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Both initially received warm welcomes on the festival circuit, but the lack of hyperbole had many perhaps underestimating them.—
Jenelle Riley,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Schumer has stood firm, and Republicans underestimated how dug in the Democrats were.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
5 Nov. 2025
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 storm was the deadliest typhoon to hit the country this year, killing at least 114 people, with many more reported missing — most in Cebu province, a tourist hotspot.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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Free throws from Trey Murphy III and Saddiq Bey sealed the deal for New Orleans, who were playing without star Zion Williamson, who is scheduled to miss at least a week with a strained hamstring.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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 12 Nov. 2025.
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