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
American humor has always been a tool for questioning orthodoxy, challenging certainty and keeping people from mistaking their sacred stories for reality.
—
Robert Lynch, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
The result is, at best, a category error; at worst, a moral panic—mistaking architecture for art, and art for authority.
—Julian Rose, Artforum, 26 Mar. 2026
There’s no mistaking Greece for anywhere else.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2026
Still, there was no mistaking what the night meant.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026
On July 3, 1988, the USS Vincennes shot down a passenger plane, Iran Air flight 655, after mistaking it for a fighter jet.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Mar. 2026
Tucked away off Lagos’ Admiralty Way main road, you’d be forgiven for mistaking its polite green exterior for something residential upon viewing.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2026
Interviewers may favor candidates who share their alma mater or communication style, mistaking familiarity for fit, Naumann says.
—Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
In a continuation of the running gag on the ABC mockumentary, Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Barbara’s inability to keep celebrity names straight has her mistaking Jennifer Coolidge from The White Lotus for Jennifer Lawrence.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2026
Robert Lynch, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
The result is, at best, a category error; at worst, a moral panic—mistaking architecture for art, and art for authority.
—Julian Rose, Artforum, 26 Mar. 2026
There’s no mistaking Greece for anywhere else.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2026
Still, there was no mistaking what the night meant.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026
On July 3, 1988, the USS Vincennes shot down a passenger plane, Iran Air flight 655, after mistaking it for a fighter jet.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Mar. 2026
Tucked away off Lagos’ Admiralty Way main road, you’d be forgiven for mistaking its polite green exterior for something residential upon viewing.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2026
Interviewers may favor candidates who share their alma mater or communication style, mistaking familiarity for fit, Naumann says.
—Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
In a continuation of the running gag on the ABC mockumentary, Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Barbara’s inability to keep celebrity names straight has her mistaking Jennifer Coolidge from The White Lotus for Jennifer Lawrence.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistaking
Verb
-
David Schurman Wallace on misunderstanding Gertrude Stein.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
-
This could be along the lines of a passive-aggressive email or a coworker misunderstanding your tone.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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However, novice mistakes or underestimating the work can end up making some projects more expensive in the long run.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Undocumented immigrants venture from Mexico, often underestimating of the treachery of the landscape.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As if that wasn’t confusing enough, not all Christians agree on what day of the calendar that specific Sunday is.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
4 Apr. 2026
-
However, following the path of Artemis II may be confusing as the astronauts, mission control and others use confusing jargon and phrases.—
ByMary Kekatos,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The MorphoScan is even missing a couple of quality-of-life features present on the Etekcity scale, including a safe mode for pregnant women and pacemaker users that disables the BIA electrical current for weight-only measurements.—
Andrew Gebhart,
PC Magazine,
5 Apr. 2026
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Before the opening faceoff there was a tribute to Vancouver native Evander Kane, who returned to the lineup to play his 1,001st game after missing the last two games with an undisclosed injury.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Overpaying for early acquisitions, misjudging theatrical performance, or relying on complex financing structures can all compound quickly in a market with thin margins and unpredictable returns.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
23 Mar. 2026
-
By adjusting force in real time, robots may be able to interact more naturally with fragile objects and unpredictable environments without over-gripping, slipping, or misjudging contact.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Beauty is about wanting to nip and tuck ourselves into better versions, but conflating that desire with actual scientific research is odd.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The report states that a series of conflating issues, such as widespread budget cuts, technological disruption, the dominance of streamers, and economic instability, have caused the feeling of fear and crisis across the industry.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mistaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistaking. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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