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
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
But analysts unfamiliar with the local and digital context risk mistaking performative loyalty for genuine belief.
—Elizaveta Gaufman, The Conversation, 21 Feb. 2026
Also, for the data to be readable across centuries, every single person or robot who ever handles the glass must avoid accidentally losing it or mistaking it for part of a futuristic domino set.
—Damien Pine, Scientific American, 19 Feb. 2026
And on Mondays, owners of franchises desperate to catch up continue to prize familiarity, mistaking their comfort for competence, trusting that stubborn repetition will somehow produce stability.
—Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
There is no mistaking the tragedy of Roper killing his own son for Teddy’s betrayal.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 1 Feb. 2026
And the administration appeared to underestimate the power of the blowback, perhaps mistaking the state’s passive aggressive reputation for weakness.
—Eric Roper, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
Leaving clean laundry in the dryer or hamper only puts off a chore until later, keeps clean clothes from its proper place, and also risks wrinkles or someone accidentally mistaking it for dirty laundry instead.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2026
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
But analysts unfamiliar with the local and digital context risk mistaking performative loyalty for genuine belief.
—Elizaveta Gaufman, The Conversation, 21 Feb. 2026
Also, for the data to be readable across centuries, every single person or robot who ever handles the glass must avoid accidentally losing it or mistaking it for part of a futuristic domino set.
—Damien Pine, Scientific American, 19 Feb. 2026
And on Mondays, owners of franchises desperate to catch up continue to prize familiarity, mistaking their comfort for competence, trusting that stubborn repetition will somehow produce stability.
—Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
There is no mistaking the tragedy of Roper killing his own son for Teddy’s betrayal.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 1 Feb. 2026
And the administration appeared to underestimate the power of the blowback, perhaps mistaking the state’s passive aggressive reputation for weakness.
—Eric Roper, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
Leaving clean laundry in the dryer or hamper only puts off a chore until later, keeps clean clothes from its proper place, and also risks wrinkles or someone accidentally mistaking it for dirty laundry instead.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistaking
Verb
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Sharing the same city also helps with simple things like meeting at the office, reviewing accident scenes, or misunderstanding traffic patterns and neighborhoods.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
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Another risk is misunderstanding the premiums tied to silver.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Water worries Sea levels are on average 1 foot higher than previously assumed, raising alarms that the world is underestimating how much land and how many people will be affected by rising oceans.—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
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Most damningly, Schoen’s hang ups on winning negotiations, prioritizing positional value and being right — while underestimating or having no feel for the locker room and its leadership, culture and dynamic — have had lingering effects on the team’s psyche and belief.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But the notice sent last spring was so vague and confusing that few people used it to object.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
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The company’s messaging has been confusing and has at various points seemed to contradict its own previous statements, as well as information from the government.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Cecil County Sheriff's Office is searching for the person responsible for speeding by a school bus on the right-hand side, narrowly missing two children who were getting on.—
Ashley Paul,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
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The youthful sounds of laughter and enthusiastic conversation were missing.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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After big price increases during the pandemic, when vehicles were in short supply, Stellantis kept on going, misjudging how much consumers would be willing to pay, Brauer said.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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Stacy Hawthorne, board chair of the Consortium for School Networking, an association for school technology officials that signed the letter, is concerned that some are conflating social media, which can cause problems for children, with technology more broadly, which can help students learn.—
Tyler Kingkade,
NBC news,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mistaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistaking. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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