1
as in to confuse
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related
you've mixed piety up with pietism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
in my rush I had mixed up the files and had to sort them out later
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in mistake
an instance of confusion
there was a mix-up at the airport and our luggage was accidentally sent to Ohio
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 mix (up)
Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
The mix-ups led to the wrong body being cremated and the wrong person being buried, and the mistakes were only discovered after both occurred, according to the outlets.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025
Ultimately, that mix-up is apt foreshadowing.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
This novel is much more than a story of a possible hospital mix-up of babies.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 30 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mix (up)
Noun
Somehow a mix-up has occurred, perhaps even without their realizing it.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
The mix-ups led to the wrong body being cremated and the wrong person being buried, and the mistakes were only discovered after both occurred, according to the outlets.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025
Ultimately, that mix-up is apt foreshadowing.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
This novel is much more than a story of a possible hospital mix-up of babies.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 30 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mix (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mix (up)
Verb
-
Transparency Without Predictability Feels Like an Excuse Don’t confuse transparency with honesty.—
Shep Hyken,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Last summer, Noemi Rios of Dallas started the grassroots organization Vecinos Unidos to advise immigrants of their rights and to identify people who may be confused by or scared of the system.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Both sides say the strike will disrupt hospital operations.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The United States on June 25 launched a new satellite expected to significantly improve forecasts of solar flares and coronal mass ejections — huge plasma bubbles that can crash into Earth, disrupting power grids and communications.—
Sasirekha Subramanian,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Cole Caufield served notice that Team USA made a grave mistake leaving him off the Olympic team, but Morgan Geekie’s deuce trumped the brilliant Montreal Canadiens forward’s hat trick in the Bruins’ thrilling come-from-behind 4-3 win at TD Garden on Saturday night.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
-
The other side of that coin is that the lengthy language might make mistakes and open the door to interpretations that undercut the law.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, butterflies drift overhead, penguins shuffle, and the museum’s living roof flourishes with native plants from as far as Borneo and Madagascar.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The quarterback shuffle, though, continues.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Multiple helpers can slow response during urgent scams and create confusion when fast decisions matter.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The category confusion continued this year.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
He was also disturbed by the 2016 murder of Labour parliamentarian Jo Cox by a far-right figure associated with neo-Nazi groups who had been radicalized online.—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Jan. 2026
-
But then Detective Nathanial Saint shows up carrying disturbing news and an even more unexpected jolt of creativity.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Quite what the foul-up in the technology was is unclear, but TNT’s decision-makers were apparently confident that having people on completely different sides of the world wouldn’t be a problem.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2026
-
There are fewer opportunities for foul-ups and mishandling between flights when there are fewer connections and layovers.—
Bailey Berg,
AFAR Media,
5 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mix (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mix%20%28up%29. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
