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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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
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Germany's Bild newspaper reported on Saturday that Witkoff had misunderstood Russia's position on a ceasefire deal, taking Putin's demands for Ukraine to withdraw from Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson as an offer for Moscow to pull troops from the two regions.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Aug. 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 lot of us, dressed in our finery, descend upon the event, bidding a quick hello to Ronson and earning some stares from the upstate locals, confused by our presence—and matching outfits.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
30 Oct. 2025
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Her daughter was confused, and eventually asked Nasser for an explanation as to what had been said.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Falcons looked to have tied the game up in the fourth quarter with less than five minutes to go on Drake London’s third touchdown catch of the game but Parker Romo missed the extra point.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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That slower growth means that targets to triple global solar capacity by 2030 will probably be missed, and growing demand for energy means emissions are still rising.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But Republicans believe Earle-Sears’ support could be underestimated in polling.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
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The Street Legal tour is much underestimated.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mistook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistook. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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