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
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
You could be forgiven for mistaking the two.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 13 May 2026
There’s no mistaking the stark change in the chip’s packaging.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
There could be no mistaking what band was blasting out of all those boomboxes and car radios.
—Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 9 May 2026
There is no mistaking Sherman’s ownership as even remotely successful thus far.
—Greg Cote
may 7, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026
Gangsta rap’s effectiveness as a prosecutorial tool, like the minstrel shows before it, depends on audiences mistaking caricature for authenticity, and hinges on hearing artistic expression as documentary evidence of criminal actions.
—A.d. Carson, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
Outside state lines, the perception of The Big D aligns with the eponymous prime time soap opera saga, often mistaking the Stockyards as within city limits (much to neighboring Fort Worth’s dismay).
—Nathanael Gassett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026
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
You could be forgiven for mistaking the two.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 13 May 2026
There’s no mistaking the stark change in the chip’s packaging.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
There could be no mistaking what band was blasting out of all those boomboxes and car radios.
—Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 9 May 2026
There is no mistaking Sherman’s ownership as even remotely successful thus far.
—Greg Cote
may 7, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026
Gangsta rap’s effectiveness as a prosecutorial tool, like the minstrel shows before it, depends on audiences mistaking caricature for authenticity, and hinges on hearing artistic expression as documentary evidence of criminal actions.
—A.d. Carson, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
Outside state lines, the perception of The Big D aligns with the eponymous prime time soap opera saga, often mistaking the Stockyards as within city limits (much to neighboring Fort Worth’s dismay).
—Nathanael Gassett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 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
-
Markets are underestimating the long-term need for memory chips in the AI buildout, and shares of chipmaker Micron Technology stand to gain more than 30% from their current level, according to several Wall Street banks.—
Tobias Burns,
CNBC,
11 May 2026
-
Investors may be seriously underestimating the global economic impacts of the war in Iran, executives warned Thursday.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Winners are chosen by a mix of votes from the two, translated into points by a system confusing even to Eurovision fans.—
Jill Lawless,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
-
Clients hiring us for AI narrative work are under investor pressure to move fast, and the cost of confusing speed with substance will show up on their balance sheets.—
Kathleen Lucente,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Is an important event missing from this date?—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
-
You could be forgiven for missing the name.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar hit the barriers after misjudging a chicane.—
Sahil Kapur,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
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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
-
Neighbors like the crypto mine next door to Shadden are what data center opponents want to avoid, though data center industry cautions against conflating the two.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 May 2026
-
What most people get wrong is conflating the theme of the exhibition with the dress code for the evening.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mistaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistaking. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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