Synonyms of mistakes

mistakes 1 of 2

noun

plural of mistake

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

• blunders
• errors
• misjudgments
• miscalculations
• trips
• missteps
• misunderstandings
• slipups
• misapprehensions
• faults
• inaccuracies
• miscues
• slips
• fumbles
• stumbles
• goofs
• gaffes
• misstatements
• flubs
• lapses
• misinterpretations
• misconceptions
• boobs
• clinkers
• foul-ups
• misconstructions
• misimpressions
• boners
• errancies
• muffs
• misprisions

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

• blunders
• errors
• faults
• fumbles
• stumbles
• trips
• inaccuracies
• miscues
• missteps
• flubs
• goofs
• gaffes
• screwups
• oversights
• slipups
• bricks
• lapses
• gaffs
• bobbles
• clangers
• boo-boos
• slips
• misunderstandings
• boobs
• clinkers
• fluffs
• pratfalls
• bloopers
• misjudgments
• snafus
• misstatements
• miscalculations
• howlers
• misinterpretations
• misconceptions
• misreadings
• misconstructions
• misimpressions
• bloomers
• boners
• misapprehensions
• foul-ups
• misdescriptions
• miscomprehensions

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accuracies
• precisions
• exactitudes
• perfections
• infallibilities
• inerrancies

mistakes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of mistake

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

• misunderstands
• misses
• misreads
• misconstrues
• misapprehends
• misperceives
• misinterprets
• misknows
• misjudges
• misconceives
• misdeems
• mishears

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• knows
• understands
• sees
• appreciates
• catches
• gets
• perceives
• comprehends
• takes in
• makes out
• grasps
• seizes
• apprehends
• conceives
• penetrates
• savvies
• groks
• fathoms

2

as in underestimates

to make an incorrect judgment regarding

you seriously mistake me if you think I scare so easily

Synonyms & Similar Words

• misunderstands
• underestimates
• misjudges
• mismeasures
• misconceives
• misestimates
• miscalculates
• misdeems
• misgauges
• misconstrues
• misapprehends
• overestimates
• misperceives
• miscounts
• misinterprets
• misknows
• overrates
• overvalues
• underrates
• undervalues
• misesteems
• misreckons

3

as in confuses

to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related

she mistook physical attraction for love

Synonyms & Similar Words

• confuses
• mixes (up)
• confounds
• conflates
• lumps (together)
• miscalls
• misapplies
• misnames
• misidentifies

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• differences
• separates
• distinguishes
• differentiates
• discriminates

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of mistakes

Noun

The Tar Heels’ ability to overcome some sloppiness — and, yes, take advantage of a slew of TCU mistakes — was a positive intangible sign after Belichick’s brutal debut season and offseason. — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026

Notice that this entire process still leans on AI to catch AI's mistakes. — Ted Ladd, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

These girls make mistakes and learn lessons while living in unfair, unequal and unjust societies in need of change. — Tara Strauch, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026

The Chiefs have to be more patient in playing through those mistakes. — Sam McDowell 29, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026

But the Supreme Court ordered Tyler back on the ballot after multiple officials blamed mistakes by the Secretary of the State’s office, which has since issued an apology. — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026

During public comment Monday, Auburn resident Wayne Mater said city officials needed to address mistakes with honesty and integrity. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Mistakes To Avoid There are a few mistakes people often make when cleaning their garage door—the biggest one involving abrasive scrub pads. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026

There’s lessons about learning from your mistakes, honoring your ancestors and loving yourself. — Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Verb

On my flight home, a man my exact age mistakes me for a college student traveling with her parents. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Aug. 2026

Activating campaigns across channels is so deeply ingrained in go-to-market strategies that mistakes in one place ripple out everywhere. — Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Recognizing those forces in the world isn’t the same thing as interrogating them, and as a seasoned artist with real power in Hollywood, Gluck repeatedly mistakes implication for insight. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026

Attacks on humans by great barracudas are rare and often occur when the fish mistakes a shiny object, such as diving gear, for prey, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. — ABC News, 31 July 2026

Walking around with no shoes on Taking your shoes off at your seat is one thing, but Treat says walking around the cabin in socks—or worse, barefoot—is one of the biggest hygiene mistakes passengers make. — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 31 July 2026

The current podcasting landscape, to him, already mistakes access for art. — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 29 June 2026

Everyone mistakes Nick for Luke, who, in the other time line, survived the shipwreck and then died by suicide. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 June 2026

In the end, reverence for the likes of Genghis Khan, Hitler, and Attila the Hun mistakes fear for respect, destruction for disruption, and raw terror for true greatness. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 June 2026