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
Getting swept away in the echo chamber — mistaking group hype for true alignment, or chasing ideals without grounding them.
—
Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 12 Oct. 2025
Over the last decade, hunters killed more than a dozen grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone area after mistaking them for black bears, reported Mountain Journal.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 7 Oct. 2025
Like mistaking a tube of moisturizer for toothpaste or shampoo for body wash.
—Caelan McMichael, Allure, 7 Oct. 2025
Her father had bought it at the county fair; the vender, mistaking it for yet another replica Native ceremonial mask, had all but given it away.
—David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Hough also noted that he was distracted by the It's Complicated star's presence in the audience, persistently mistaking the actor for his own father.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Sep. 2025
Leaders celebrate short-term wins that merely mask deeper inefficiencies, mistaking temporary fixes for progress.
—Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
There was no mistaking that elk.
—Jack Atcheson Sr. As Told To Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 11 Sep. 2025
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, 6 Sep. 2025
Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 12 Oct. 2025
Over the last decade, hunters killed more than a dozen grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone area after mistaking them for black bears, reported Mountain Journal.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 7 Oct. 2025
Like mistaking a tube of moisturizer for toothpaste or shampoo for body wash.
—Caelan McMichael, Allure, 7 Oct. 2025
Her father had bought it at the county fair; the vender, mistaking it for yet another replica Native ceremonial mask, had all but given it away.
—David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Hough also noted that he was distracted by the It's Complicated star's presence in the audience, persistently mistaking the actor for his own father.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Sep. 2025
Leaders celebrate short-term wins that merely mask deeper inefficiencies, mistaking temporary fixes for progress.
—Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
There was no mistaking that elk.
—Jack Atcheson Sr. As Told To Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 11 Sep. 2025
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, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistaking
Verb
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Lambert said that misunderstanding the limits of local authority likely fueled the online reaction.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Nigeria deserves solidarity in its fight against terror — not careless rhetoric that fuels misunderstanding.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Yet Britain failed to capitalize on the success, underestimating the American ability to regroup and continue fighting.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Last season, the Alabama Crimson Tide paid the price for underestimating an incredibly hungry Vanderbilt Commodores team led by star quarterback Diego Pavia.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This brings the total to more than $2 million raised to influence the outcome of Referendum 310, funding a wave of misleading ads aimed at confusing voters.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
15 Oct. 2025
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The British and American versions also have different plot points, further confusing the matter, but the score has endured and developed a cult-following.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Officers then conducted a welfare check and while her phone was there, both her car and wallet were missing.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
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On October 7th, at the Senate Judiciary Committee’s oversight hearing for Attorney General Pam Bondi, four Democratic senators—Sheldon Whitehouse, of Rhode Island; Mazie Hirono, of Hawaii; Alex Padilla, of California; and Peter Welch, of Vermont—also raised the matter of the missing fifty thousand.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
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
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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
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That’s part of the reason people have such an easy time conflating you with your character.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Oct. 2025
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But Gimbel argues one of the biggest misconceptions is conflating exposure to AI with displacement.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mistaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistaking. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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