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
Police drew guns on a student outside a Baltimore County high school after an artificial intelligence system mistook his snack for a firearm.
—
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
The woman mistook him for an Uber driver and got in his car, according to deputies.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Though not much is known about their relationship, the famed Sex and the City actress had played into a funny moment when 60 Minutes mistook her for Justin's mother, Margaret, in a retrospective.
—Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
During last year’s total solar eclipse, some birds mistook the sudden darkness for dawn — and burst into song.
—Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Police mistook Leasy's white Mercedes for a car thought to belong to the suspect of a nearby shooting, the claim says.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 10 Oct. 2025
The children were accidentally napalmed by South Vietnamese pilots who mistook a group of fleeing villagers for Viet Cong.
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025
The people who chased and shot at former Denver Broncos player Josh Reynolds and his two friends last year mistook the trio for people who’d used counterfeit money to purchase $250,000 worth of cocaine in an earlier drug deal, according to court records.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
David Forman, deputy commandant of midshipmen, a midshipman who mistook authorized law enforcement as a threat engaged and was injured in the process.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
The woman mistook him for an Uber driver and got in his car, according to deputies.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Though not much is known about their relationship, the famed Sex and the City actress had played into a funny moment when 60 Minutes mistook her for Justin's mother, Margaret, in a retrospective.
—Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
During last year’s total solar eclipse, some birds mistook the sudden darkness for dawn — and burst into song.
—Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Police mistook Leasy's white Mercedes for a car thought to belong to the suspect of a nearby shooting, the claim says.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 10 Oct. 2025
The children were accidentally napalmed by South Vietnamese pilots who mistook a group of fleeing villagers for Viet Cong.
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025
The people who chased and shot at former Denver Broncos player Josh Reynolds and his two friends last year mistook the trio for people who’d used counterfeit money to purchase $250,000 worth of cocaine in an earlier drug deal, according to court records.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
David Forman, deputy commandant of midshipmen, a midshipman who mistook authorized law enforcement as a threat engaged and was injured in the process.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistook
Verb
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So both sides have misunderstood his constituency.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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Many patients are surprised to learn that watery eyes can actually be a sign of dryness, a common but frequently misunderstood symptom.—
Team Verywell Health,
Verywell Health,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After months marked by corruption, violence, and the open perversion of law, to gasp in outrage at the loss of a few tons of masonry and mortar might seem oddly misjudged.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
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On one occasion, a blunt-nosed viper misjudged the distance to its prey.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Farmers’ Almanac will be gone for good after its final 2026 edition, not to be confused with The Old Farmer's Almanac, a separate publication.—
Alex Perry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
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Blue Origin also launches New Shepard from Texas The New Glenn spacecraft is not to be confused with Blue Origin's much smaller New Shepard rocket that the company launches from West Texas on brief trips taking paying passengers high above Earth's atmosphere.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Despite the success, Sony has missed much of this upside due to selling the film’s exclusive rights to Netflix.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
11 Nov. 2025
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That foul before the inbounds gave Powell one free throw and the Heat possession, but Powell missed that one free throw.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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There have been 501 femicides recorded through September of this year, and many advocates say the numbers are likely far underestimated.—
Cassandra Garrison,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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Schumer has stood firm, and Republicans underestimated how dug in the Democrats were.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mistook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistook. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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