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
• bricks
• slipups
• lapses
• gaffs
• bobbles
• clangers
• slips
• boo-boos
• 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 Ravens did that, committing only three penalties for 25 yards (the Eagles had 10 for 96), limiting their mistakes and controlling the line of scrimmage. — Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026

The second-round pass rusher made aggressive mistakes, falling twice for option fakes and overrunning a screen pass early. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2026

Glendale saw its mistakes and lamented its experience with only nine seniors on its 38-man roster. — Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026

Ungodlike thoughts and their outcomes are not negated just by trying not to think about evil, mistakes, disease, hatred, lack, sorrow, etc. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2026

Common mistakes to avoid Regardless of your credit score, there are a few common mistakes to avoid before purchasing a home. — Deane Biermeier, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026

Those include instances of mistakes leading to innocent people being stopped and detained at gunpoint, as well as officers using data to stalk women. — Tom Olsen, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2026

What are the biggest mistakes to avoid when traveling with pets by car? — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 14 Aug. 2026

As a more hands-off or less stressful option, many Americans turn to a bread machine for an easier homemade bread option, but this appliance presents a new set of questions and potential bread machine mistakes. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Aug. 2026

Verb

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

Reading it as weakness mistakes a maturing payment instrument for a shrinking asset class. — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 28 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

At the same time, Carter (Finn Little) mistakes Oreana's (Natalie Alyn Lind) attention for something more. — Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026