1
as in misunderstood
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 misjudged
to make an incorrect judgment regarding
you seriously mistake me if you think I scare so easily
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in confused
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 mistook
The detective believes Levine saw the bags Palacios was carrying and mistook him for a homeless person.
—
Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
The doctors at Daso include an octogenarian who once mistook fat for an appendix and other doctors whose board certifications appear to be overstated.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
In September 2018, Guyger mistook Jean’s apartment for her own.
—Jane Harper, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
Censori confirmed one part of earlier testimony — that Kardashian was reportedly perturbed when another employee mistook Censori for Kardashian during a visit to the house.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
Others mistook Caesar’s top-down approach for a desire to replace the Republic with a monarchy.
—Paul Vanderbroeck, Big Think, 9 Feb. 2026
But a wildlife officer shooting from a helicopter mistook one of the juveniles for an adult, shooting and killing it by mistake.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Three federal air marshals were chased out of a Lynwood restaurant after a crowd mistook them for immigration agents on Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
Glaser said that during one babysitting gig, Adam Sandler called the Apatow house and mistook her voice for Maude Apatow.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
The doctors at Daso include an octogenarian who once mistook fat for an appendix and other doctors whose board certifications appear to be overstated.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
In September 2018, Guyger mistook Jean’s apartment for her own.
—Jane Harper, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
Censori confirmed one part of earlier testimony — that Kardashian was reportedly perturbed when another employee mistook Censori for Kardashian during a visit to the house.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
Others mistook Caesar’s top-down approach for a desire to replace the Republic with a monarchy.
—Paul Vanderbroeck, Big Think, 9 Feb. 2026
But a wildlife officer shooting from a helicopter mistook one of the juveniles for an adult, shooting and killing it by mistake.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Three federal air marshals were chased out of a Lynwood restaurant after a crowd mistook them for immigration agents on Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
Glaser said that during one babysitting gig, Adam Sandler called the Apatow house and mistook her voice for Maude Apatow.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistook
Verb
-
The crowd’s reaction, like so much collective behavior in Japan, could easily be misunderstood by outsiders.—
Joshua Hunt,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Democrats stand for upholding the Constitution and Rule of Law but have been misunderstood by the electorate.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Even so, the idea seemed misjudged.—
Christopher Tayler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
In the end, McAdams’ sexiness isn’t incidental, but integral to how she’s been misjudged.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Carlson clearly got confused between the arsonist and the fire brigade.—
Calev Myers,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
They are confused by all the activity.—
Via Chronicle Books,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Guard Skyy Clark, who missed 10 conference games while recovering from a hamstring injury, struggled offensively, missing all five shots from the field.—
Sean Campbell,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
On Saturday, the Hurricanes hardly missed.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Scientific research shows that millions of people live in areas facing inundation, but now, a new study finds those numbers have been vastly underestimated.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Although discrepancies are smaller in data-rich regions such as Western Europe and the eastern United States, where robust local monitoring has kept projections more closely calibrated, the study identifies the West Coast of North America as a region where sea levels have also been underestimated.—
Marcos Magaña,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mistook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistook. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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