1
as in blunder
a wrong judgment
they made a mistake when they thought the young pitcher was ready to be called up to the major leagues
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2
as in error
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
made a mistake on the exam that almost cost her a passing grade
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to misunderstand
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to underestimate
to make an incorrect judgment regarding
you seriously mistake me if you think I scare so easily
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3
as in to confuse
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related
she mistook physical attraction for love
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mistake
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
5 July 2026
Too little conviction causes investors to sell as soon as a position becomes uncomfortable, while too much can turn a mistake into part of their identity.
—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2026
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 June 2026
The cultural mistake is mistaking exposure and awareness for outcome.
—
Daren Smith,
IndieWire,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for mistake
Noun
The measurements auto-populate the quote, eliminating the transcription errors and ruler mistakes that have plagued the industry for decades.
—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
5 July 2026
Too little conviction causes investors to sell as soon as a position becomes uncomfortable, while too much can turn a mistake into part of their identity.
—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2026
Verb
One of the birds people are most likely to mistake for a whooping crane is a sandhill crane, its closest relative.
—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 June 2026
The cultural mistake is mistaking exposure and awareness for outcome.
—
Daren Smith,
IndieWire,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for mistake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistake
Noun
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Sometimes this was committed to good, such as the Marshall Plan and the Peace Corps, and sometimes to ill, as in a series of military blunders meant to quash godless Communism.
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also fallen foul of Germany’s World Cup elimination by Paraguay, after stumbling into a social media debacle following a communications blunder.
Noun
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Third baseman Ryan McMahon also committed a throwing error, New York's 19th in its last 14 games.
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England is hoping karma is on its side after a famous goal-scoring error sealed a World Cup loss to Argentina 40 years ago at Azteca Stadium.
Verb
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That misunderstands both the problem and the legislation itself.
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In response to a complaint from former Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, Herbstreit posted a lengthy diatribe on X completely misunderstanding the modern game.
Verb
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Green said earlier this year that Adebayo shouldn’t be underestimated and his 83-point game against Washington shouldn’t be discredited.
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That economic toll shouldn’t be underestimated as solutions are developed.
Verb
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That is important because a boxy robotaxi that can drive both ways may confuse pedestrians, cyclists or other drivers.
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One of the biggest mistakes students make is confusing a loan approval with an affordability recommendation.
Noun
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Mistakes and misjudgments come with the territory, but there has been a notable uptick in errors leading directly to opposition chances.
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In an era of higher funding costs and unpredictable liquidity windows, the penalty for misjudgment compounds quickly.
Verb
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In the early days, the page teemed with posts sharing objects found, along with heartfelt and, at times, gut-wrenching pleas for missing personal items.
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After making all six of his shots and four of his free throws on Friday, Lendeborg was 0 for 4 from the field and missed both of his foul shots in the first half.
Verb
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Meanwhile, Scheffler misjudged his approach and scrambled to save par.
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Koulibaly misjudged a clearance and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was unable to keep out substitute Marcus Pedersen’s rasping shot to give Norway the lead close to halftime.
Cite this Entry
“Mistake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistake. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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