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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistaking
Verb
-
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
-
Another risk is misunderstanding the premiums tied to silver.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Instead, the Iran war has driven inflation worries, and Deutsche Bank research suggested policymakers were also likely to compensate for underestimating inflation in years past.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
25 Mar. 2026
-
But those who in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries made erroneous predictions of imminent mass starvation erred by underestimating the world‑changing potential of grasses.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This device is a high-tech centrifuge that simulates microgravity by spinning vials with samples around two axes, effectively confusing the cells inside as to their position in space.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
27 Mar. 2026
-
During the Second World War, the Allies put a special effort into confusing the Axis powers.—
David Szondy
March 25,
New Atlas,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Be missing for weeks, nobody can find them.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Raynaud has started 48 games with Domantas Sabonis missing most of the season due to injuries.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
29 Mar. 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 29 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
