as in incorrect
having an opinion that does not agree with truth or the facts
meat loaf is on the cafeteria's menu today, if I'm not mistaken
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in misunderstood
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 underestimated
to make an incorrect judgment regarding
you seriously mistake me if you think I scare so easily
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in confused
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
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Recent Examples of mistaken
Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
As late as August 2007, the Federal Reserve was skeptical of such bubble talk, while Grantham was dismissed as a pessimist, a dismissal that soon proved mistaken.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
Clements said the mistaken identification may have happened because the creature decomposed and lost its telltale shell before it was fossilized, complicating identification.
—ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
As the Times reporters Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman revealed this week in their in-the-Situation Room account of how Trump decided to start the war, no one in his Cabinet of courtiers had the guts to challenge his mistaken assumptions.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2026
Nimrods is a coming-of-age film centering on three high school friends who set out on a wild road trip under the mistaken assumption that their fledgling band has been booked to open for Green Day on New Year’s Eve.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026
For people who wake up with cervicogenic headaches, which start in the neck and get mistaken for migraines, the neutral positioning can meaningfully reduce morning pain.
—Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
For anyone dealing with cervicogenic headaches, the kind originating in the neck that get mistaken for migraines, back sleeping keeps things neutral and can reduce the pressure that triggers morning pain.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
Hohenhaus explains that bored cats may pester owners for attention, which is often mistaken for hunger.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
Dr. Andrew Garner, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
There are the classic compact versions, like those from Byredo, as well as clever reinterpretations—such as Dior’s balm-like take that could easily be mistaken for a lip product at first glance.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2026
Leslie Hairston, a former City Council colleague of Preckwinkle’s whose South Side ward abutted hers, said Preckwinkle’s scholarly disposition shouldn’t be mistaken for indifference.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
But my silence should not be mistaken for agreement with lies.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2026
Zaluzhnyi believes the agency could not plausibly have mistaken the location of the country’s main war command center.
—Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
This is the second time in the past few weeks that local police in our area have been mistaken for ICE.
—Tara Lynch, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Too many players have mistaken the AI boom for a chance to buy credibility rather than to build capability.
—Judah Taub, semafor.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Rather than come off as a protest event, the 35-minute program offered a set of mild, largely non-political performances that could have been mistaken for a vintage CMT or Nashville Network special — even from Kid Rock, who was on his very best behavior during a quick two-song appearance.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Some of the water guns carried by the students can be mistaken for the real deal, and that's exactly what happened over the weekend.
—Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
As late as August 2007, the Federal Reserve was skeptical of such bubble talk, while Grantham was dismissed as a pessimist, a dismissal that soon proved mistaken.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
Clements said the mistaken identification may have happened because the creature decomposed and lost its telltale shell before it was fossilized, complicating identification.
—ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
As the Times reporters Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman revealed this week in their in-the-Situation Room account of how Trump decided to start the war, no one in his Cabinet of courtiers had the guts to challenge his mistaken assumptions.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2026
Nimrods is a coming-of-age film centering on three high school friends who set out on a wild road trip under the mistaken assumption that their fledgling band has been booked to open for Green Day on New Year’s Eve.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026
For people who wake up with cervicogenic headaches, which start in the neck and get mistaken for migraines, the neutral positioning can meaningfully reduce morning pain.
—Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
For anyone dealing with cervicogenic headaches, the kind originating in the neck that get mistaken for migraines, back sleeping keeps things neutral and can reduce the pressure that triggers morning pain.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
Hohenhaus explains that bored cats may pester owners for attention, which is often mistaken for hunger.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
Not trusting adults can be mistaken as a disrespect for authority and can cause problems at home and school.
—Dr. Andrew Garner, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
There are the classic compact versions, like those from Byredo, as well as clever reinterpretations—such as Dior’s balm-like take that could easily be mistaken for a lip product at first glance.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2026
Leslie Hairston, a former City Council colleague of Preckwinkle’s whose South Side ward abutted hers, said Preckwinkle’s scholarly disposition shouldn’t be mistaken for indifference.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
But my silence should not be mistaken for agreement with lies.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2026
Zaluzhnyi believes the agency could not plausibly have mistaken the location of the country’s main war command center.
—Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
This is the second time in the past few weeks that local police in our area have been mistaken for ICE.
—Tara Lynch, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Too many players have mistaken the AI boom for a chance to buy credibility rather than to build capability.
—Judah Taub, semafor.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Rather than come off as a protest event, the 35-minute program offered a set of mild, largely non-political performances that could have been mistaken for a vintage CMT or Nashville Network special — even from Kid Rock, who was on his very best behavior during a quick two-song appearance.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistaken
Adjective
-
County officials also said Freidenrich’s management of the treasurer’s office led to delays in issuing refunds to schools, filing tax liens and cashing property tax checks, which resulted in incorrect late fees and penalties for taxpayers.—
Claire Wang,
Oc Register,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Any assertion that city single-family homeowners are being double taxed would be incorrect.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In response to questions about the Mizuho analyst’s conclusions, Muddy Waters founder Carson Block told Fortune by email that the analyst had misunderstood its findings.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The crowd’s reaction, like so much collective behavior in Japan, could easily be misunderstood by outsiders.—
Joshua Hunt,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As a result, escalating warning signs were underestimated, and opportunities to intervene were missed.—
Inaya Folarin Iman,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Damage is done The severity of the threat should not be underestimated, said Roland Oliphant in the same paper.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The south London BBQers were confused.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Microphones are a tool for speaking out loud, or singing, before a crowd, and Lee uses the object as a symbol of her own desire to speak and be understood, even when she is confused by competing cultures and unsure of her own voice.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Now 43-38, Charlotte has lost ground this week with difficult losses to Boston and Detroit that followed the same blueprint, as the Hornets fell off a cliff in the fourth quarter at the wrong time.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Overfertilizing Fertilizing too much or at the wrong time could potentially damage plant roots, leading to leaf damage and eventual drop.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Timberwolves played without Julius Randle, who missed a second straight game with right hand soreness.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The next batter, Jacob Wilson, sent a slow roller past Senga right to Semien, who missed the ball completely.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Perez correctly identified pitches that ump Doug Eddings had misjudged.—
Neil Nakahodo,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Even so, the idea seemed misjudged.—
Christopher Tayler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mistaken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistaken. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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