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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mistaking
That’s when organizations begin mistaking operational momentum for operational stability.
—
Doug Shannon, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
On the football field, there is no mistaking New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
For the past 40 years, Boise State football’s blue turf has drawn jokes and jabs, and there has been that urban myth about how all manner of birds were mistaking the field for a giant pond, resulting in their crashing-landing like a quarterback taking a big hit from a charging linebacker.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 2 June 2026
No one’s mistaking this for My Left Foot.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2026
But there was no mistaking the defense emphasis, which was needed.
—Mike Sando, New York Times, 27 May 2026
And mistaking one for the other is another legacy of how the Cold War foreshortened the humanistic possibilities of the intellectual revolution of the past eighty years—a revolution that has, miraculously, allowed people to communicate with machines using human languages.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Their father, Nahuel (Amién), flits from one romantic affair to another, failing to recognize his shortcomings the way fathers typically forget minor yet significant details, like mistaking his younger daughter’s shoe size or never delivering on his promise to have the sink fixed.
—Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 16 May 2026
There’s no mistaking the stark change in the chip’s packaging.
—Yuri Kageyama, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Doug Shannon, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
On the football field, there is no mistaking New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
For the past 40 years, Boise State football’s blue turf has drawn jokes and jabs, and there has been that urban myth about how all manner of birds were mistaking the field for a giant pond, resulting in their crashing-landing like a quarterback taking a big hit from a charging linebacker.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 2 June 2026
No one’s mistaking this for My Left Foot.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2026
But there was no mistaking the defense emphasis, which was needed.
—Mike Sando, New York Times, 27 May 2026
And mistaking one for the other is another legacy of how the Cold War foreshortened the humanistic possibilities of the intellectual revolution of the past eighty years—a revolution that has, miraculously, allowed people to communicate with machines using human languages.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Their father, Nahuel (Amién), flits from one romantic affair to another, failing to recognize his shortcomings the way fathers typically forget minor yet significant details, like mistaking his younger daughter’s shoe size or never delivering on his promise to have the sink fixed.
—Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 16 May 2026
There’s no mistaking the stark change in the chip’s packaging.
—Yuri Kageyama, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistaking
Verb
-
There has already been some backlash to the project, with fans apparently misunderstanding the scope of the technology.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
9 June 2026
-
Hilton accused him of misunderstanding state law.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some oil veterans worry the market, lulled by these workarounds, is underestimating the real-world impact.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
-
But Orlando Bravo, founder and managing partner of Thoma Bravo, told CNBC that saying investors are underestimating software companies' ability to adapt.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
If your team is stuck in a rut, too polite to disagree, or confusing harmony with alignment, choose Elizabeth.—
Ann Kowal Smith,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
An endless array of confusing tariff news, with economists and others discussing its impact on the economy.—
Tom Jurkowsky,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Emilio Navarro, the mayor of Santiago Del Teide, offered his condolences to the families of the dead and said rescue crews continued Monday to search for the missing swimmer.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Dec. 2025
-
But the tensest exchange came over 11 minutes of missing bodycam footage, specifically of the transport of the evidence from McDonald's to the police station, when Wasser allegedly turned her camera off.—
Ben Brachfeld,
PEOPLE,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar hit the barriers after misjudging a chicane.—
Sahil Kapur,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
In this case, conflating the disinheritance with his dismissal of you may make the issue seem to be only about money.—
Eric Thomas,
Sun Sentinel,
11 June 2026
-
Moreover, many rightfully argue that Zionism is in fact fueling legitimate antisemitism by deliberately conflating Judaism with a supremacist ideology and regime that is waging terror, death and destruction.—
Nicole Erin Morse,
Baltimore Sun,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mistaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistaking. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
