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
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
In another, the bot mistook a mammogram of a benign breast cyst for an image of testicles.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2026
Digging into their Nordic roots, Ida and Filip also built a sauna, which some confused members of the local community initially mistook for a giant bread oven.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Dec. 2025
No one, except maybe kids too young to remember the 20th century, mistook Stranger Things for being original.
—Judy Berman, Time, 26 Dec. 2025
One example is an AI detection software that mistook a bag of Doritos for a gun, resulting in a large police response.
—James Densley, The Conversation, 17 Dec. 2025
Another employee mistook the pitcher of cleaning fluid for juice and poured it into three residents’ glasses, prosecutors said.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2025
Sorkin’s brand of idealism suddenly felt like science fiction — an elegy for a republic that mistook grift for governance.
—Alexis Coe, Rolling Stone, 16 Nov. 2025
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
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
In another, the bot mistook a mammogram of a benign breast cyst for an image of testicles.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2026
Digging into their Nordic roots, Ida and Filip also built a sauna, which some confused members of the local community initially mistook for a giant bread oven.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Dec. 2025
No one, except maybe kids too young to remember the 20th century, mistook Stranger Things for being original.
—Judy Berman, Time, 26 Dec. 2025
One example is an AI detection software that mistook a bag of Doritos for a gun, resulting in a large police response.
—James Densley, The Conversation, 17 Dec. 2025
Another employee mistook the pitcher of cleaning fluid for juice and poured it into three residents’ glasses, prosecutors said.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2025
Sorkin’s brand of idealism suddenly felt like science fiction — an elegy for a republic that mistook grift for governance.
—Alexis Coe, Rolling Stone, 16 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistook
Verb
-
So both sides have misunderstood his constituency.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
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
-
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
-
The show is Finding Her Edge, a new ice skating drama that should not be confused with Spinning Out, another Netflix ice skating drama that was cancelled after one season.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Judicial warrants should not be confused with administrative warrants, which are signed by immigration officers.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Collins missed at the other end, and Denver’s Bruce Brown hit a pair of free throws to extend the advantage to 13 points.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
31 Jan. 2026
-
George had surgery in July on his left knee after he was injured during a workout and missed the first 12 games of this season.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Valdez didn’t create from a place of self-pity or victimhood, but with a bit of chip on his shoulder — eager to prove wrong those who underestimated him based on his background.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Everyone underestimated me, except me and my family.—
Emily Kelleher,
InStyle,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mistook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistook. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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