1
as in misunderstanding
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in underestimating
to make an incorrect judgment regarding
you seriously mistake me if you think I scare so easily
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in confusing
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 mistaking
You’d be forgiven for mistaking them as longtime friends.
—
Erica Sloan, SELF, 23 Jan. 2026
There’s no mistaking it for anything else, as the grille and parallel headlight elements are distinctly Genesis.
—Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 21 Jan. 2026
Faced with ambiguous leadership choices, decision-makers retreat to familiar metrics and reassuring track records, mistaking backward-looking evidence for forward-looking insight.
—Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
For Western policymakers, mistaking pressure for transformation risks leaving the Islamic Republic bruised but standing.
—Sanam Vakil, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
There could be no mistaking that this was a significant mismatch.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Further investigation revealed that the victim was on board a northbound train, mistaking it for a southbound train.
—Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Buffett has also repeatedly cautioned shareholders against mistaking volatility for failure.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2026
The creative LaMelo Ball, along with Kon Knueppel, Collin Sexton and Tre Mann are all gifted scorers and offensive forces, but nobody is mistaking them for members of the 2004 Pistons.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
Erica Sloan, SELF, 23 Jan. 2026
There’s no mistaking it for anything else, as the grille and parallel headlight elements are distinctly Genesis.
—Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 21 Jan. 2026
Faced with ambiguous leadership choices, decision-makers retreat to familiar metrics and reassuring track records, mistaking backward-looking evidence for forward-looking insight.
—Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
For Western policymakers, mistaking pressure for transformation risks leaving the Islamic Republic bruised but standing.
—Sanam Vakil, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
There could be no mistaking that this was a significant mismatch.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Further investigation revealed that the victim was on board a northbound train, mistaking it for a southbound train.
—Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Buffett has also repeatedly cautioned shareholders against mistaking volatility for failure.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2026
The creative LaMelo Ball, along with Kon Knueppel, Collin Sexton and Tre Mann are all gifted scorers and offensive forces, but nobody is mistaking them for members of the 2004 Pistons.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistaking
Verb
-
This could look like a confrontation that clears the air once and for all or a decision to stop explaining yourself to people committed to misunderstanding you.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
19 Jan. 2026
-
People keep either misunderstanding or forgetting that there are not one but two revolutions going on here, the second being accelerated computing.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Retailers invest heavily in front-end capabilities while underestimating the complexity of data governance, quality and interoperability.—
Gary Drenik,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
-
The finding adds a new species to the growing list of creatures that have been found to use external objects to achieve a goal and suggests that society has been underestimating the minds of farm animals.—
Kate Wong,
Scientific American,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
For example, during a recent power outage in San Francisco, autonomous robotaxis got stuck at intersections, blocking emergency vehicles and confusing other drivers.—
Murugan Anandarajan,
The Conversation,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The projectionist showed the second reel first, and as my grandfather said, the film was already confusing enough.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
For these groups, missing doses can have life-altering consequences.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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What remains missing is a full economic and social impact study, released publicly for review and comment.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The survey found that young daters often misinterpret green flags as red flags, misjudging intentions in stereotypical ways.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The other kids have never been happier or more prepared for the standardized tests that will determine their futures, which means their parents are suddenly in love with Maria, and her overbearing principal is sorry for misjudging her.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
With modern terminology, the anti-liberal playbook of the 1950s has returned, once more, by conflating progressive politics with communism.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Detection is not the same as impairment, and conflating the two misleads the public.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mistaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistaking. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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